Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) recently announced the commencement of final assembly of the first production KF-21 fighter jet.

The airframer stated that the first production aircraft would be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) in the first half of 2026. Korea’s defence procurement agency DAPA inked the first KF-21 mass production contract with KAI in June 2024. The total development period sanctioned for the KF-21 programme is 10 years and 6 months and KAI commenced prototype flight testing in July 2022.

“Despite many challenges and difficulties, the KF-21 system development project was able to reach mass production stably thanks to the cooperation among related organizations such as the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the government, the Air Force, and developers,” said KAI Vice President Cha Jae-byung. The KF-21 is South Korea’s largest aerospace project and the 4.5 gen fighter will replace ROKAF F-4 and F-5 fighter jets.

KAI has a stated localisation goal of 65% for the KF-21 programme and is supported by approximately 600 domestic Korean firms. KAI has developed indigenous Mission and Flight Control computers, with partner firms having localized major avionics control systems including the AESA radar.

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