South Korea starts work on new air‑to‑air missile
South Korea has officially launched a 435.9 billion-won ($296 million) project to develop indigenous short-range air-to-air guided missiles for its domestically produced KF-21 fighter jets.
According to a statement from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the missile development initiative is scheduled for completion by 2032.
The effort aims to provide the KF-21 with domestically developed weapon systems, reducing reliance on foreign technology and supporting broader defense export goals.
“This project is aimed at developing guided missiles for homegrown fighter jets by 2032, in our bid to diversify weapons systems and increase arms exports,” DAPA said.
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) will lead the program, with local defense contractors, including LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace, expected to participate. In a statement, a DAPA official said the missile “is expected to mark a key milestone in advancing Korea’s airborne weapons systems and expanding the nation’s defense industry in the aviation sector.”
The missile is expected to be integrated with the KF-21 Boramae, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight in 2022 and is currently undergoing a series of development and evaluation stages, with operational deployment projected for the latter part of the decade.
Equipping the KF-21 with a domestically developed short-range missile complements ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on U.S. and European missile technologies, such as the AIM-9X Sidewinder or IRIS-T, both currently considered for integration into the Boramae.
DAPA emphasized that indigenizing air-to-air missile capabilities is “essential for ensuring strategic autonomy” and enables more flexible arms procurement options amid evolving geopolitical pressures and shifting export control regulations.
LIG Nex1, one of the firms expected to join the development effort, has previously led missile programs including the Chiron MANPADS and the medium-range surface-to-air missile system (KM-SAM). Hanwha Aerospace, meanwhile, is a key supplier of aircraft engines, avionics, and other aerospace systems for both domestic and export-oriented platforms.
As South Korea continues to expand its footprint in global defense markets, the KF-21 program has drawn interest from potential partners and customers, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Adding an indigenous missile system is seen as an asset for countries looking for a complete weapons package not constrained by third-party export licenses.
