Overview
- The Defense Acquisition Program Administration, South Korea’s arms procurement agency, said Thursday the KF-21 is fully combat suitable for real missions.
- The jet completed about 1,600 flights and roughly 13,000 test conditions, including aerial refueling and live weapons releases, during years of trials.
- System development is slated to conclude in June 2026, with the first production aircraft due in the second half of 2026 and a plan for 40 Block I jets by 2028 and 120 total by 2032.
- Officials warn limited budgets could slow the pace of mass production and deliveries even after the combat certification milestone.
- Industry reports new export openings following certification, with Indonesia cited as a likely first buyer and more than 10 countries expressing interest.