SACHEON— South Korea has delivered its first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae fighter to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), moving the indigenous combat aircraft program from development into operational introduction.
The aircraft departed Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon (HIN) on September 22 and flew to Yecheon Air Base, its first operating location.
The KF-21, designated No. 001, was formally accepted by Maj. Han Jae-seok of the 156th Fighter Squadron before he flew the aircraft to its new base.
An FA-50, TA-50 and T-50 accompanied the fighter during its arrival at Yecheon, highlighting the transition from the development program to Air Force operations.
KF-21 Enters Air Force
The handover came 25 years and six months after South Korea first announced plans for an indigenous fighter in March 2001. Full-scale system development eventually began in December 2015 after years of feasibility reviews, funding delays and planning, with Indonesia joining the program as a development partner.
South Korea designed the KF-21 as a 4.5-generation multirole fighter to replace older aircraft, including the retired F-4 Phantom and aging F-5 fleets. The aircraft measures 16.9 meters in length, has an 11.2-meter wingspan, and can reach Mach 1.8, with a maximum takeoff weight of 25.6 metric tons and a maximum payload of 7.7 tons.
KAI unveiled the first prototype in April 2021, and the KF-21 completed its maiden flight in July 2022. Mass production began in June 2024, while the first production aircraft rolled out in March 2026 before undergoing acceptance procedures.
Testing Cleared Fighter
The KF-21 completed an extensive development campaign before entering Air Force service. Six prototypes conducted about 1,600 flight tests and covered more than 13,000 test conditions, including aerial refueling, weapons trials, flight-performance assessments and avionics testing.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration granted the KF-21 final combat suitability certification in May 2026 after the aircraft completed the required performance evaluations.
System development was formally completed in July, clearing the way for the first production aircraft to enter the Air Force.
The Air Force reactivated the 156th Fighter Squadron in June 2026 to operate the new fighter.
The unit had previously flown F-4E Phantom aircraft before its deactivation in 2012, and personnel have since received specialized training for KF-21 flight operations and maintenance.
120 Jets Planned
South Korea plans to introduce more than 100 KF-21 fighters in phases by the early 2030s.
The current production plan calls for 40 aircraft with an initial focus on air-to-air capabilities by 2028, followed by 80 additional fighters with enhanced air-to-ground capabilities by 2032.
The Air Force expects to declare the KF-21 operational in the second half of 2027, the Korea Herald flagged.
The September 2026 delivery therefore marks the beginning of a further phase involving training, maintenance preparation and gradual expansion of the fighter fleet.
The program’s progression from a 2001 development proposal to a production aircraft entering Air Force hands represents a significant step in South Korea’s effort to establish an indigenous fighter capability.
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