First KF-21 production jet nears completion

South Korea is moving ahead with the assembly of its first serially produced KF-21 Boramae fighter jet.

Photos released this week show that work on the first production model of the 4.5-generation multirole fighter is progressing without issue, according to South Korean media reports.

Assembly is already underway on twelve aircraft, and a second production contract—covering an additional twenty jets—is expected to be signed in June.

The KF-21 is designed to replace the aging F-4 and F-5 fighter fleets while supplementing South Korea’s F-35 inventory. It incorporates low-observable design elements, modern radar and sensor suites, and is capable of integrating a broad range of Western and domestic weapon systems.

As noted by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), “the production schedule remains on track,” with the company reaffirming its focus on quality assurance to meet the operational standards required by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).

The ROKAF is expected to begin operational testing of the KF-21 in 2026 following the completion of flight trials and ground evaluations.

A total of 120 aircraft are planned for production by 2032.