SACHEON - South Korea commenced the production of its domestically designed KF-21 fighter jet on Wednesday, marking a significant progression in its aerospace defense capabilities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a ceremony was held at Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) in Sacheon to celebrate the assembly of the first KF-21 production model. The KF-21 program, initiated in 2015, aims to replace the nation's older fleet of U.S.-made F-5 jets with a modern supersonic fighter. Last month, KAI secured a contract worth 1.96 trillion won (approximately US$1.41 billion) to manufacture 20 units of the KF-21 by 2027, with plans to expand the fleet to 120 aircraft by 2032. The first of these jets is expected to be delivered to the South Korean Air Force by the end of 2026. DAPA has already conducted numerous tests on six KF-21 prototypes, encompassing flight performance and armament capabilities.