South Korea Rolls Out First Mass-Production KF-21 Boramae Fighter Jet
Seoul – 25 March 2026 (MT Team) : South Korea has officially unveiled the first mass-production unit of the KF-21 Boramae, marking a major milestone in its indigenous combat aircraft program led by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
The 4.5-generation multirole fighter, which first flew in 2022, is now transitioning from testing to full-scale production. Seoul has already ordered 40 Block I jets, with initial operational deliveries expected in 2026, and plans to expand the fleet to 120 aircraft.
President Lee Jae Myung attended a ceremony for the beginning of mass production on the domestically developed jet in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday, highlighting the achievement in the country’s long-standing aspiration for self-reliance in national defense.
Sacheon is home to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the defense company that has jointly led the project over the past 25 years with other stakeholders such as Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, the Air Force and the Agency for Defense Development.
The president said the government will capitalize on the KF-21’s success as a “solid foundation” as part of the nation’s vision to become one of the world’s top four defense-industrial powers, while expanding investment in relevant industries and strengthening cooperation with partner countries.
“The fighter jet standing proudly before you embodies the long-cherished aspiration for self-reliant national defense that we have pursued for over half a century,” Lee said in his speech.
More than 500 guests attended, including Air Force pilots, defense company executives and employees, Air Force Academy cadets and ambassadors to Korea representing 14 countries.
The president called the rollout of the first mass-produced KF-21 “the result of a long journey spanning 25 years, built on the sweat and effort of countless individuals,” noting that President Kim Dae-jung introduced the project in 2001.
The president added that the KF-21 “signifies that Korea has secured a new driving force to compete confidently with the world’s leading defense nations.”
“The government will leverage this success as a solid foundation for advancing Korea into one of the top four defense-industrial nations,” he added, placing the country alongside the United States, Russia and France.
The president also said the government will ensure industrial growth sustainability, noting that it “will promptly invest in and support the development of advanced aircraft engines, materials and components.”
On the global stage, Lee emphasized that the KF-21 had already attracted attention even before the rollout of the first assembled jet, driven by its outstanding performance, low maintenance costs and the high versatility of its airframe platform.
“We will share not only our world-class weapons systems but also our technology and development experience with partner countries,” he said, before concluding that the government will advance Korea as “a contributor to world peace and prosperity.”
The KF-21 project was led by domestic engineers throughout the entire process, from the design stage to the first prototype built in 2021 and on to full production, demonstrating Korea’s defense industry competitiveness on the global stage. These include active electronically scanned array radar, infrared search and track, electro-optical targeting pod and integrated electronic warfare suite technologies.
