KF-21 Boramae Receives Final Approval [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

A Milestone Achieved 10 Years After System Development Began

Over 13,000 Flight Test Conditions Verified

The domestically developed fighter jet KF-21 Boramae has officially received the final designation of "combat suitability." This decision, made after about three years of follow-up testing and evaluation since the "provisional combat suitability" designation in May 2023, signifies that all performance aspects of the KF-21 Block-I have been fully verified.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on May 7, this designation means that the Korean Fighter Experimental (KF-21) program has successfully passed the final stage of its development. It marks an achievement 10 years after the start of the system development phase.

The KF-21 project, which began with President Kim Dae-jung’s declaration in August 2001 to develop an advanced domestic fighter jet, officially launched its system development in December 2015. After starting the first test evaluations in May 2021, the project conducted a variety of ground tests over approximately five years until February this year, verifying durability and structural integrity. Notably, more than 1,600 test flights were conducted to assess aerial refueling and weapons launch, verifying flight performance and stability under over 13,000 separate test flight conditions.

DAPA evaluated that the combat suitability designation demonstrates that the KF-21 meets the operational requirements (ROC) of the Air Force and has secured the technical sophistication and reliability needed to perform missions in real combat environments. As a result, the KF-21 system development project will be formally concluded next month.

The first mass-produced KF-21 unit, which rolled out in March this year, is scheduled for delivery to the Air Force in the second half of the year. Subsequent units will be deployed in stages. The KF-21 will replace the Air Force’s aging F-4 and F-5 fighter jets.

No Ji-man, head of the KF-21 Program at DAPA, stated, "This is a symbolic achievement that demonstrates the Republic of Korea’s complete capability in independently developing a fighter jet," adding, "We will continue to proceed with mass production and force integration without delay, further enhancing the operational capability of the Air Force."

DAPA currently plans to deliver an initial batch of 40 KF-21 units, focusing on air-to-air capabilities, to the Air Force by 2028. By 2032, an additional 80 units, equipped with air-to-ground and air-to-ship capabilities, will be produced and delivered, bringing the total to 120 aircraft.

However, due to mounting pressure on the national defense budget, there are concerns that the original timeline for KF-21 force integration may be delayed. In fact, DAPA is reportedly coordinating the schedule for mass production and force integration of the KF-21 with the Air Force.

Shin Chungjin, DAPA’s chief spokesperson, said at a regular briefing at the Ministry of National Defense on this day, "DAPA is pushing ahead with the project by comprehensively considering limited funding and other conditions. We are continuing to consult with the military and related agencies to ensure the stable and efficient execution of defense improvement projects, including the follow-on mass production of the KF-21." Jang Dongha, head of the Air Force’s Seoul PR team, added, "We are doing our best to consult with DAPA for the force integration of the KF-21, but nothing has been decided yet. At this time, there are no separate plans to extend the use of the F-5."

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