Marking a major milestone in the development of the platform, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has announced the completion of the test flight campaign for the new KF-21 fighter jets, which are intended to equip the Republic of Korea Air Force. The news has been officially confirmed by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which stated that since 2021 more than 1,600 tests have been conducted with the platform to validate its operational capabilities. All of these tests were successfully completed without any accidents.
Providing further details, local media citing DAPA officials reported that the flight test phase was completed almost two months ahead of the original schedule, an achievement attributed to the expansion of the test sites used during the campaign. In addition, as another key factor that helped accelerate the process, the agency highlighted that the aerial refueling procedure was carried out earlier than planned in order to certify this capability for the aircraft.
As a result, the forward-looking schedule now stipulates that development of the KF-21 could be completed by mid-year, while production and delivery of the first batch of aircraft should take place during the second half of the year. If this timeline is met, it would mean that the Republic of Korea Air Force would receive the aircraft just over a decade after launching the program aimed at acquiring an indigenous fighter to replace the aging U.S.-built F-4s (already retired) and F-5s. Under this scenario, KAI’s design would join South Korea’s fighter fleet alongside the F-15K Slam Eagle and the F-35A Freedom Knight.
In terms of numbers, previous reports indicate that Seoul is planning for a total of 120 KF-21 aircraft, with the completion of the acquisition process scheduled for 2032. The initial batch to be delivered to South Korean pilots is expected to include around 20 fighters, for which approximately USD 1.4 billion has already been invested, as stipulated in the contract signed in 2024.
Meanwhile, it is important to note that KAI is already working on an “EX” version of the aircraft, whose main feature will be the incorporation of a new internal weapons bay. This bay is expected to be capable of carrying at least a 2,000-lb guided bomb, Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, and the long-range Nex1 missile. According to the manufacturer, this will significantly enhance the fighter’s strike capabilities while preserving its low-observable characteristics thanks to the internal carriage of weapons. This version is also expected to feature a new electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), an upgraded electronic warfare suite, and mission computers integrating artificial intelligence.
Finally, it should be noted that South Korea is also pursuing the acquisition of a new hypersonic ballistic missile to be integrated into the KF-21’s arsenal, reportedly derived from the design lineage of the KTSSM. According to OSINT sources, this system would be capable of striking targets at ranges between 400 and 1,000 kilometers, with speeds estimated to fall between Mach 5 and Mach 10.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
You may also like: KAI advances serial production of KF-21 fighters to be delivered to the South Korean Air Force in 2026
