Seoul:South Korea's indigenous KF-21 fighter jet has completed its inaugural formation flight alongside U.S. aircraft over the Yellow Sea, as confirmed by officials in Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the KF-21 Boramae, which is part of the 156th Fighter Squadron, 16th Fighter Wing, participated in this joint aerial formation flight with the U.S. Air Force jets last Friday. The U.S. deployed the U-2S Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft and F-35 and F-16 fighter jets. Meanwhile, the South Korean Air Force contributed its F-35, F-15K, and FA-50 fighter jets, alongside the KF-21 Boramae.
This event marked the first occasion the KF-21 Boramae has flown in formation with U.S. air force assets. The flight was conducted shortly before the allies commenced their biannual combined air drills, known as Freedom Flag, on Monday. These drills are aimed at improving the joint interoperability of their forces.
A Korean Air Force official stated that the purpose of the flight was to gather experience for the KF-21 in preparation for the Freedom Flag exercises. A release from the U.S. Seventh Air Force, published on the U.S. Forces Korea website, highlighted the "Friendship Flight" as a demonstration of the combined interoperability and combat readiness of the U.S. Air Force and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) on the Korean Peninsula. It showcased the direct integration of the air forces of both nations during flying operations.
South Korea completed the development of the KF-21, its first fighter jet constructed using indigenous technology, in July. This completion marks the end of a project initiated in 2015 to replace the aging U.S.-made F-4 and F-5 jets in the Air Force's fleet. The first production model of the KF-21 fighter jet was assigned to the 16th Fighter Wing last month, with plans to deploy additional units by mid to late 2027. The Air Force intends to deploy over 100 KF-21 fighter jets by early 2030, establishing them as a central asset.