First serial production KF-21 fighter jet nearing completion
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the final assembly phase of the first serial production KF-21 Boramae fighter jet at KAI’s Sichuan facility on Tuesday.
The development program for a South Korean 4.5-generation fighter jet has been progressing rapidly in recent years. Following the maiden flight in July 2022, five more prototypes have joined the test program.
In July last year, KAI began serial production of the first batch of 20 KF-21 fighter jets for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
According to DAPA, the first fighter jet has undergone the assembly of minor parts, production of major components and the joining of the front and rear fuselage.
The aircraft has now entered the final assembly phase, with the joining of wings, stabilizers and the installation of various equipment such as avionics, engines, landing gear, among others.
The first series-production KF-21 Boramae, called “Yangshan 1”, will be delivered to the Air Force in the second half of 2026.
DAPA also indicated that the start of deliveries of the fighter could help to make the first export contracts viable. KAI has offered the KF-21 to countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Peru.
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