President Lee: "KF-21 Is the Fruit of Self-Reliant Defense... A Stepping Stone to Becoming a Top Four Defense Industry Powerhouse" (Comprehensive)

Congratulatory Speech at the Rollout Ceremony of the First Mass-Produced KF-21
"25 Years of Challenge, Turning the Impossible into Reality"
"We Will Spare No Investment in Engines, Materials, and Components"
500 Attendees Including Diplomat

On March 25, President Lee Jaemyung commented on the rollout of the first mass-produced unit of Korea’s KF-21 fighter jet, stating, “Our own fighter jet, built with our own capabilities to protect our skies, is finally ready for deployment.” He added, “The Republic of Korea now possesses weapons to defend peace not only on land and sea, but also in the air, with our technology and determination.”

Yonhap News Agency

During his congratulatory speech at the rollout ceremony held in Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, President Lee said, “At last, today, the first mass-produced unit of the advanced Korean fighter jet KF-21, designed with independent Korean technology and built with our own hands, is being rolled out.” The ceremony was attended by 500 people, including KF-21 test pilots, executives and employees from defense companies, Air Force Academy cadets, students from the Aviation Science High School, and diplomatic envoys from 14 countries.

President Lee emphasized, “As President, I am infinitely proud to celebrate this historic moment together with 52 million citizens,” adding, “The fighter jet standing before you today embodies our passionate desire for self-reliant national defense, a dream we have cherished for over half a century.”

He continued, “With the mass production of the KF-21, the Republic of Korea has now demonstrated the might of self-reliant defense by possessing weapons to defend peace in the air, as well as on land and sea, through our own technology and will.”

Commenting on the development process of the KF-21, President Lee said, “This great moment did not come by itself,” and assessed that, “A long period of 25 years and the sweat and efforts of countless people have brought us to this day.”

He added, “Since President Kim Daejung announced the domestic fighter jet development project in 2001, our researchers, engineers, government officials, and military personnel never gave up, despite numerous obstacles and skepticism. In the end, they turned the impossible into reality.”

The development of the KF-21 began in earnest in 2015, and the project faced difficulties when overseas technology transfer for core avionics such as the AESA radar fell through. However, the government, military, research institutes, and defense companies worked closely to localize key technologies and solve technical challenges one by one, successfully managing development and production without a single schedule delay. This achievement is the result of the joint efforts of more than 64,500 researchers and engineers, including those at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), who participated in the KF-21’s development and production.

During this period, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and other industry-academia-research organizations used a total of six prototypes to conduct 955 ground tests and 1,601 flight tests to verify the KF-21’s design, manufacturing, and production capabilities. With its excellent cost-effectiveness and flexible scalability, the KF-21 has attracted interest from several countries.

President Lee expressed his gratitude to those involved—including Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), domestic defense industry companies and research institutes, and Air Force personnel—saying, “Thanks to the dedication of those who devoted their lives to development and production, the Republic of Korea can now protect its airspace with its own strength.” He also extended his appreciation to the families of the researchers and engineers who supported them throughout the process.

Yonhap News

President Lee reaffirmed his commitment to making Korea one of the world’s top four defense industry powers. He said, “The success of the KF-21 is not just about strengthening national defense, but also means that the Republic of Korea has secured new momentum to compete confidently with the world’s leading defense powers.”

He added, “Thanks to its outstanding performance, low maintenance costs, and high platform scalability, the KF-21 has attracted strong interest from countries around the world even before the rollout of its first unit,” and continued, “The government will use the KF-21’s success as a solid stepping stone toward becoming one of the world’s top four defense industry powers.”

President Lee stated, “Through the K9 self-propelled howitzer, Cheongung missile, and more, the Republic of Korea has proven its world-class defense technology and production capabilities. Now, by designing and manufacturing fighter jets independently, Korea has established itself as a true powerhouse in the defense and aerospace industries.”

He also pledged active support for continued growth in advanced aviation engines and materials. “We will not settle for this achievement,” he said, “and will promptly begin developing advanced aviation engines, materials, and components, making every effort to invest in and support the sustained growth of our industry.”

He went on to say, “We will further strengthen the competitiveness of K-Defense by sharing not only the world’s best weapons systems with our partner countries but also our technological expertise and development experiences. We will never stop this bold challenge of continuous research and development, so that our outstanding technology can protect the peace of both the Republic of Korea and the world, and make our people’s lives even more prosperous.”

President Lee concluded, “A country that once depended on foreign aid for its weaponry now manufactures advanced weapons with its own technology, and is sought after by countries around the world. Our proud fighter jet will become a symbol of solidarity defending the airspace of the Republic of Korea and the world, and a messenger of peace.” He added, “The government will continue moving forward toward the realization of self-reliant national defense—a long-held dream—and toward making the Republic of Korea a contributor to world peace and prosperity.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.