KABUL, Afghanistan — Nearly a decade after the development of South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae began, the government has finalized a significant deal with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to produce 20 state-of-the-art fighter jets.
This order marks a milestone as KAI reports that the fighter’s development is now 80% complete.
South Korea orders first batch of KF-21 fighters
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) awarded KAI a 1.96 trillion won contract (approximately U.S. $1.41 billion) for the initial Block 1 batch of these 4.5-generation aircraft, as announced on June 25. The first of these advanced jets will be delivered by the end of 2026, with the final delivery from this series scheduled for August 31, 2027, according to KAI.
“Despite many challenges and difficulties, the KF-21 system development project has reached a stable mass production phase, thanks to the solid cooperation of related organizations,” KAI President Kang Goo-young said in a news release.
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Jinseok Song, part of the firm’s KF-X program management team (named after the initial title for the KF-21), previously told Defense News that the company plans to manufacture 40 KF-21 Block I and 80 Block II aircraft. DAPA has initially ordered 20 aircraft based on recommendations from the government-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.
The government may place an additional order for 20 more jets next year, pending further verification of the aircraft’s performance.
Production for Block II, set to be developed from 2026 to 2028, will enhance air-to-ground capabilities and expand the aircraft’s performance envelope. Approximately 2,200 test flights are planned by 2026.
KAI has been preparing for this production contract by establishing a supply chain involving 600 domestic companies, building production facilities, and acquiring necessary tools. The company aims for a localization rate of 65%, noting that as with the T-50 jet and Surion helicopter, the domestic production rate is expected to rise as the aviation industry ecosystem is strengthened through the mass production of the KF-21.
The KF-21 is set to replace South Korea’s F-4 and F-5 fighters, with the F-4 having retired this month.
This significant step in the KF-21 Boramae project not only highlights South Korea’s advanced aerospace capabilities but also promises to enhance national defense and boost the domestic aviation industry.
