South Korea’s ambitious fighter jet program, called KF-21 Boramae, continues to make big strides forward as it has reduced production targets lately. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration has scaled back the current year’s production of KF-21 fighters from 40 to 20. Korea Aerospace Industries confirmed the deal of $1.4 billion for the production of these 20 fighters and their delivery by 2026.
Therefore, the KF-21, being a 4.5-generation fighter, is intended to replace the aging F-4 and F-5 fighter jets of RoKAF. It may not vie in comparison with the advanced F-35, which is technologically more advanced.
Nevertheless, it happens to be relatively cheaper. Therefore, Block 1 of the KF-21 will be equipped with the full spectrum of air-to-air and limited air-to-ground capabilities while Block 2 will get an upgrade of the said capabilities by 2028.
The KF-21 “will contribute to improving the power of the national air force and further developing the advanced aerospace industry.” said KAI CEO Kang Goo-young.
The KF-21 program was initiated in early 2000 and had progressed quickly, having conducted its maiden flight test last July and having completed air-to-air refueling trials last month.
Indonesia has been a junior partner in the program and therefore suffered from delays in payments, which would raise concerns about its future involvement.
South Korea’s partner companies have been involved in the development of more than 600 aircraft, thereby helping the country reach a localization rate of 65%.
The KF-21 will supposedly provide capabilities superior to the French Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon but, of course, will remain under the latter’s class. The RoKAF will have 120 KF-21s in service by 2032, and the aircraft will also be offered for export.
To date, the recent air-to-air refueling trials mark another milestone for the KF-21. The fifth prototype flew into an Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) in flight without incident, which represents the long-range operational capabilities of the fighter.
According to Noh Ji-man, head of the Korea Fighter Program at DAPA, the event “can expand the operational radius and operating time of the KF-21, contributing to securing the Air Force’s long-distance operational capabilities.”
The KF-21 program was launched formally in 2016. That was an extremely rapid pace of development work. The prototype was rolled out in April 2021, and the first flight took place in July 2022.
The aircraft has been provisionally judged “fit for combat” and is expected to enter service with the RoKAF by the end of 2026.
The KF-21 will be developed as a fourth-generation plus fighter equipped with AESA radar and IRST, while armament will consist of long-range MBDA Meteor air-to-air missiles and locally produced long-range cruise missiles.
The KF-21 is now all the rage, as it made its public debut at ADEX 2023, with the United Arab Emirates showing interest in participating in the program.
The RoKAF will acquire 40 KF-21s through 2028, and the next 80 through 2032. They will be produced in single and two-seat models; the Block 2 will have full air-to-ground capabilities.
Good export potential – countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and Iraq – have an immediate requirement for KF-21. Poland is interested in the KF-21 as well since it recently signed several major contracts with South Korean companies to purchase tank and artillery components.
The KF-21 program marks thus another important step forward for the South Korean arms industry. It is a competent and cost-effective alternative to its more expensive brethren of fifth-generation fighters.