Seoul, Sept. 23 – South Korea’s Air Force has taken delivery of its first production KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, advancing the indigenous fighter program into operational service. The aircraft flew from Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon to a unit in Yecheon, about 165 kilometers north, escorted by an FA-50 light attack jet, a TA-50 trainer, and a T-50 Golden Eagle. Officials confirmed the handover after combat compatibility certification in May 2026 and systems development completion the next month, four years after the prototype’s July 2022 maiden flight.
The KF-21 Boramae, meaning young hawk, is a South Korean-designed supersonic fighter intended to replace aging F-5 jets. Proposed in 2001 and formally launched in December 2015 with Indonesia as a partner, the program saw the first prototype roll out in April 2021, and mass production began in June 2024. The Air Force reactivated the 156th Fighter Squadron in June to operate the new jets after 14 years of inactivity following F-4E Phantom service.
Korea Aerospace Industries plans to deliver 40 air-to-air KF-21 fighter jets by 2028 and 80 additional aircraft with long-range air-to-ground missiles by 2032. The Republic of Korea Air Force aims to field more than 100 KF-21 Boramae jets by the early 2030s, supported by an increased defense budget that will sustain initial production and follow-on orders for this advanced indigenous fighter.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Son Sug-rag stated that after years of development challenges, the KF-21 now belongs to operational crews who must treat the nation’s premier fighter jet as the ultimate shield of the Republic of Korea. The first KF-21 delivery therefore marks a decisive shift toward self-reliant air power and a modernized South Korean fighter fleet.