South Korea's KF-21 Fighter Makes First Delivery Flight to Air Force
South Korea's KF-21 fighter made its first delivery flight Tuesday, marking a milestone in its indigenous jet program.
The first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae took off from Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.'s manufacturing plant in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, and headed north to an Air Force unit in Yecheon, roughly 165 kilometers away, according to the joint release. An FA-50 light attack aircraft, a TA-50 fighter trainer and a T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainer flew in formation alongside the KF-21 to mark its arrival.
The handover to the Air Force marks a milestone in the country's decadeslong efforts to develop an indigenous fighter, which dates back to as early as 2001, when then President Kim Dae-jung declared the initiative. Following years of budget delays and feasibility reviews, South Korea launched the project in December 2015 in partnership with Indonesia to develop an advanced supersonic aircraft and replace now-retired F-4 fighters and aging F-5 jets. Boramae means "young hawk" in Korean.
Tuesday's delivery came about two years after the jet entered mass production in June 2024. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Son Sug-rag said, "Overcoming numerous trials and hardships, the KF-21 was handed over to the Air Force today and commenced flight operations. Up until yesterday was the time for the Boramae project's policymakers and developers. From today onward, it is the Air Force's time." He added, "I call upon every service member operating the KF-21 to take immense pride and responsibility in managing our nation's premier fighter jet, uniting to ensure the KF-21 rapidly establishes itself as the ultimate shield defending the Republic of Korea."
Since KAI rolled out the first KF-21 prototype in April 2021, the fighter jet has undergone rigorous testing, earning combat compatibility certification in May before completing systems development in June. To field the new jet, the Air Force reactivated the 156th Fighter Squadron in June, about 14 years after the former F-4E Phantom unit was deactivated.
The Air Force plans to field more than 100 KF-21 jets in phases by early 2030. KAI said earlier it will manufacture 40 KF-21s focused on air-to-air capabilities for delivery to the Air Force by 2028 before producing 80 additional jets equipped with long-range air-to-ground missiles by 2032.