Hanwha Systems manufactures first AESA radar for KF-21 aircraft

Hanwha Systems' AESA radar for the KF-21 fighter aircraft mounted on a simulator for ground-based performance tests before flight trials. (Hanwha Systems)

South Korea's Hanwha Systems has manufactured the first active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) future KF-21 fighter aircraft.

Hanwha Systems announced on 6 August that it will deliver 40 AESA radar units between 2025 and 2028 for integration into the KF-21, being built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

The AESA radar will act as the “eyes” of the KF-21, detecting and tracking airborne, ground, and maritime targets. “Compared to legacy mechanically scanned radars, AESA technology enables faster target acquisition, broader coverage, and enhanced survivability by simultaneously engaging multiple threats,” Hanwha Systems said.

Hanwha Systems added that each antenna array of the AESA radar consists of about 1,000 transmit/receive (T/R) modules. A spokesperson for the company told Janes on 6 August that the AESA radar is an X-band radar with an operating frequency of between 8 and 12 GHz. The spokesperson declined to provide additional details about the technical specifications of the radar.

Hanwha Systems began to develop the AESA radar in 2016 in collaboration with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a subsidiary of South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The first prototype of this radar was unveiled in 2020, and flight tests were initiated in 2022.

The AESA radar was built at Hanwha Systems' new research and development (R&D) facility located in the northeastern Gyeonggi province. This facility – established in late 2024 – includes a near-field chamber that can test up to four radar systems simultaneously, Hanwha Systems said.