Photo: dooyeol Choi Music travel, CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons (source)
South Korea's air force took delivery of its first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae fighter on Tuesday, Sept. 22, a milestone in the country's effort to design and build its own combat jet.
A pilot from the 156th Fighter Squadron signed for the aircraft, designated No. 001, at Korea Aerospace Industries' plant in Sacheon and flew it to its first operating base at Yecheon, The Korea Herald reported, citing the air force and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. FA-50, TA-50 and T-50 jets flew alongside as it arrived.
"The KF-21, born after overcoming countless challenges and obstacles, has been delivered to the Air Force today and has begun its flight operations," air force Chief of Staff Gen. Son Sug-rag said, according to a translation cited by Breaking Defense. DAPA chief Lee Yong-cheol called the delivery a "historic milestone in achieving self-reliant national defense."
The program
The handover came about 25 and a half years after then-President Kim Dae-jung first called for a domestically built fighter in March 2001, and nearly 11 years after full-scale development began in December 2015, the Herald said. The program was launched with Indonesia as a partner and is meant to replace South Korea's retired F-4 Phantoms and aging F-5s.
The KF-21 is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter that can reach Mach 1.8 and weighs up to 25.6 tons fully loaded, according to the Herald. The first prototype was unveiled in April 2021 and flew in July 2022. Series production started in mid-2024, and the jet completed about 1,600 test flights before receiving combat suitability certification in May.
It will carry a mix of domestic and Western weapons, including the Korean KGGB precision glide bomb and the MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile, Breaking Defense reported.
Fleet plans
The 156th Fighter Squadron, which flew F-4Es until it was disbanded in 2012, was reactivated on June 1 to operate the new jet. South Korea has ordered 40 Block 1 aircraft, focused on air-to-air missions, for delivery by 2028, followed by 80 air-to-ground-capable aircraft by 2032, according to KAI as cited by the Herald. Operational status is targeted for late 2027.
Exports
KAI is pursuing foreign sales. Indonesia is looking to buy the jet directly after dropping plans to build it locally, and Malaysia is reportedly evaluating it, while the Philippines has expressed interest, Breaking Defense reported.
What's next
The squadron will train crews and develop operating procedures ahead of the planned 2027 operational declaration.
Sources
- The Korea Herald: 1st mass-produced KF-21 delivered to Air Force, marking milestone for homegrown fighter program (2026-09-22)
- Breaking Defense: South Korea inducts first locally developed fighter jet into air force (2026-09-25)
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