South Korea plans to retire its aging F-5 fighter jets by the end of 2027, accelerating the phaseout from the previously targeted 2030 timeline. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Son Seok-rak announced the decision during a press conference in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, stating the military aims to retire the F-5 fleet honorably before that deadline.
The move aligns with the impending deployment of the domestically developed KF-21 Boramae, a 4.5-generation fighter from Korea Aerospace Industries. The program, launched in 2015 to replace older F-4 and F-5 aircraft, has completed over 13,000 test conditions and 1,600 sorties without incident since its first flight in July 2022.
The first mass-produced KF-21 rolled out on March 25, 2026, completed its maiden flight in April, and is undergoing final tests. Delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force begins in early September 2026, following combat suitability approval earlier this month. Block I includes 40 air-to-air focused jets by 2028, with 80 Block II units adding air-to-ground capabilities by 2032, though costs may delay these schedules by one to three years.
The supersonic KF-21 reaches Mach 1.81 with a 2,900-kilometer range and active electronically scanned array radar, designed for future stealth upgrades. Production aims for 20-plus units annually, potentially rising to 30-40 with added investment.