At a ceremony held at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)'s headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province on Wednesday, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) officially declared the completion of the project, with key officials from government agencies, institutions and companies in attendance, as well as defense ministry officials from Indonesia participating in the project as a partner.
First envisioned in August 2001, when then-President Kim Dae-jung set out plans to develop an advanced homegrown fighter jet, the project began in December 2015. Its prototype was rolled out in April 2021, and the first mass-produced aircraft rolled out in March this year.
After years of challenges, the KF-21 was finally assessed to be "combat suitable" in May this year, clearing the final hurdle in the fighter development process. Six KF-21 prototypes completed about 1,600 high-difficulty flight tests over the past 42 months without a single accident, according to DAPA.
"We will promote the excellence of the KF-21, which has once again demonstrated the country's strength by achieving self-reliant defense," DAPA commissioner Lee Yong-cheol said at the ceremony.
The KF-21 is a next-generation fighter jet equipped with an integrated electronic warfare system, making South Korea the world's eighth country to develop an advanced supersonic fighter jet.
It has a top speed of Mach 1.81 (2,200 kph), a range of 2,900 kilometers and a weapons payload capacity of 7.7 tons. Designed with future upgrades in mind including the potential addition of stealth capabilities, the aircraft is expected to further enhance its capabilities over time.
DAPA plans to deliver the first batch of 40 KF-21 fighter jets equipped with air-to-air combat capabilities to the Air Force by 2028, followed by an additional 80 aircraft with enhanced capabilities by 2032, bringing the total number of KF-21s in deployment to 120.
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