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11h ago

South Korea Rolls Out First Mass-Production KF-21 Fighter

The move positions Seoul for near-term Air Force deliveries, reinforcing its drive for defense autonomy.

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The first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jet is unveiled during a ceremony marking its rollout at the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, southeastern South Korea, on March 25, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the rollout of the first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jets at the Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in Sacheon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on March 25, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • The first series-production KF-21, unveiled Wednesday at KAI’s Sacheon facility, now enters acceptance testing before expected ROKAF deployment in September.
  • The twin-engine, 4.5-generation jet fields a homegrown AESA radar and mission systems, while localization sits near 65% with a target of about 80% as GE F414 engines stay U.S.-sourced.
  • Indonesia is expected to sign for 16 aircraft during a late-March state visit, a cut from 48 after funding shortfalls and a probe into alleged data copying by visiting engineers.
  • KAI says it is scaling output, planning 27 aircraft in 2026 including eight KF-21s, rising to 31 in 2027 and 47 in 2028 as production lines ramp.
  • Block I starts with air-to-air roles and Block II adds wider strike from 2027, advancing a 25-year program that cost about 8.1 trillion won and that President Lee says underpins defense self-reliance.