KF-21 Achieves National Certification for Flight Safety

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced on June 16 that the 89th Airworthiness Certification Review Committee convened on June 15 and approved the KF-21 fighter jet's compliance with all airworthiness certification standards.

The airworthiness assessment for the KF-21 development project began in April 2021 and concluded in April 2026. The committee finalized its review results during this meeting.

As a result, the KF-21 has received its Type Certification, which is a comprehensive verification process conducted by the government to ensure that the design of newly developed aircraft meets airworthiness standards.

The KF-21 met all 745 inspection items across 14 categories, including aircraft structure, weapon integration, and electronic systems, as per the airworthiness certification standards.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration explained, "While the 'combat suitability' assessment obtained in May verified the operational performance, including mission capability and weapon operation, this Type Certification confirms the safety of both the pilot and the aircraft even in extreme environments."

Kim Il-dong, Deputy Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, stated, "The airworthiness certification capabilities and experience we have accumulated will serve as a foundation for objectively proving the flight safety of the KF-21, which will be a crucial factor in securing trust from foreign buyers during the export process. We expect this government-certified flight safety will significantly contribute to the expansion of K-defense exports."