South Koreas KF-21 Boramae fighter jet has received combat suitability approval, clearing its final development hurdle and paving the way for deployment this year. The approval came 11 years after the program launched in 2016, with the first prototype rolling out in April 2021 and making its maiden flight in July 2022.
The first series-produced two-seater KF-21 was unveiled at a ceremony at Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in Sacheon. This 4.5-generation supersonic fighter, designed to replace aging F-4E Phantom II and F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft, features an active electronically scanned array radar, infrared search and track system, and compatibility with MBDA Meteor air-to-air missiles.
Development progressed rapidly, with the aircraft provisionally deemed fit for combat in May 2023. Flight testing concluded successfully on January 13, 2026, after 1600 accident-free flights verifying 13000 test conditions, including air-to-air weapon launches, aerial refueling, and advanced maneuvers. The Republic of Korea Air Force has 40 Block I aircraft on order, with 20 slated for production by 2027 and 20 more by 2028, aiming for a full fleet of 120 by 2032.
Block I carries weapons externally or semi-conformally, while future Block III plans include internal weapons bays and enhanced stealth. The jet supports manned-unmanned teaming with homegrown stealth drones, particularly in its two-seat configuration. Export talks with Indonesia for 16 units are underway.