South Korea completes KF-21 fighter jet development, first delivery slated for September 2026
South Korea announced the completion of development for the domestically produced KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. The program, launched in 2015 with a budget of about 8.8 trillion won (US$6 billion), produced its first prototype in 2021. More than 1,600 flight tests were carried out without any incident, and the aircraft passed its final combat‑suitability evaluation in May 2026.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to hand over the first operational aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force in September 2026. The initial production batch will comprise 40 units, slated for delivery by 2028, with a total fleet of 120 aircraft expected by 2032. Indonesia participates as a development partner, receiving technology transfer, a prototype unit, and related agreements.
Entities: Defense Acquisition Program Administration · Korea Aerospace Industries · Lee Yong-cheol · Republic of Indonesia · Republic of Korea
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] South Korea completed development of the KF-21 fighter jet in July 2026. (both)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The KF-21 project cost about 8.8 trillion won (US$6 billion). (both)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The KF-21 passed its final combat‑suitability evaluation in May 2026. (both)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Indonesia is a development partner in the KF-21 project, receiving technology transfer and a prototype. (both)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The first KF-21 will be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force in September 2026. (both)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The first KF-21 prototype was launched in 2021. (both)
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 1,600 flight tests were completed without any accidents. (both)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The first production batch will consist of 40 KF-21 units, scheduled for delivery by 2028. (both)