One thing I never understood about the KF-21 was why wasn't an internal weapons bay built into the design from the start? Was it due to monetary reasons, or technological reasons (I doubt it's a technological reason though)?
One thing I never understood about the KF-21 was why wasn't an internal weapons bay built into the design from the start? Was it due to monetary reasons, or technological reasons (I doubt it's a technological reason though)?
I'd imagine it's not so much monetary, but developmental reasons. If you have a weapons bay, you now have to make sure all your weapons actually fit inside it, and it severely limits your future options considering ROKAF doesn't make their own ordnance (AFAIK). You have to engineer the release mechanism so it releases every single time. That means further risk is introduced into an already-risky project, and a non-insignificant addition to development time. KAI must've decided it's not worth it.
I'd imagine it's not so much monetary, but developmental reasons. If you have a weapons bay, you now have to make sure all your weapons actually fit inside it, and it severely limits your future options considering ROKAF doesn't make their own ordnance (AFAIK). You have to engineer the release mechanism so it releases every single time. That means further risk is introduced into an already-risky project, and a non-insignificant addition to development time. KAI must've decided it's not worth it.
Oooh, developmental reasons. Thanks, I didn't think about that~