The Republic of Korea’s indigenously developed KF-21 BORAMAE 4.5-generation fighter has completed certification requirements related to air-to-air combat capability for the Block I configuration.

No Ji-man, Head of the Korea Fighter Project Group at the Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA), said the combat suitability certification was “a symbolic achievement demonstrating that the Republic of Korea has fully secured independent fighter jet development capabilities.”

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is scheduled to complete KF-21 development and certification-related tasks in June 2026. The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is scheduled to take delivery of its first production aircraft in September 2026. KAI is to deliver an initial batch of 40 KF-21 Block I aircraft between 2026 and 2028. This will be followed by 80 KF-21 Block II aircraft to be delivered between 2029 and 2032 with expanded air-to-ground and anti-ship capabilities.

The first KF-21 prototype was rolled out in 2021 and made its maiden flight in 2022, beginning a test programme covering 13,000 test points during approximately 1,600 flights, involving six prototypes. KAI received provisional combat suitability approval for the KF-21 in May 2023, after which the aircraft continued an extended flight test campaign focused on validating air-to-air operational performance and compliance with ROKAF requirements.

KF-21 Block II variants are to be progressively cleared for air-to-ground capability in the first half of 2027, following late-2025 approval to accelerate air-to-ground weapons testing. KF-21 Block II aircraft were earlier slated to receive this capability by December 2028. KAI commenced development of the KF-21 (then known as KF-X) in December 2015, under a 10-year and 6-month development timeline before entry into ROKAF service.  

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