UAE approaches South Korea over KF-21 Boramae fighter
The South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a cooperation agreement on April 15 that includes the KF-21 Boramae fighter, among other programs.
The ceremony took place in Gyeryong, South Korea, and was attended by Major General Rashed Mohammed A. Al Shamsi, commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense.
Al Shamsi flew aboard the two-seat KF-21 and signed a letter of intent that provides for “comprehensive” cooperation on the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) fighter jet.
Under the agreement, the UAE Air Force will be able to observe air exercises involving the KF-21 and visit South Korean units that will operate the fighter, the Air Force said.
The new, locally developed 4.5-generation fighter is already in mass production and is expected to enter service with the ROKAF in late 2026.
The UAE’s interest comes amid a possible breakdown in the partnership between South Korea and Indonesia. The country has a stake in the KF-21, but has not made the payments stipulated in the contract.
The UAE has been seeking to acquire more fighters and currently has an agreement for 80 Dassault Rafale. The air force currently operates F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters, but it has negotiated an order for F-35s that has been on hold since 2021.
Although it is not a stealth fighter, the KF-21 has more advanced variants planned by KAI.
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