South Korean Air Force Receives First KF-21 Fighter

South Korea’s air force last week took delivery of the first example of the new KF-21 fighter produced by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI). The aircraft, which was delivered on September 22, is the first of 20 covered by firm orders placed by the government’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, with potentially another 20 more to be confirmed under the manufacturer’s Block 1 agreement.

The first production KF-21 was handed over to the 156th fighter squadron and is expected to be ready for operational deployment in the second half of 2027. It will be stationed at the Yecheon air base and was developed to replace long-serving fighters such as the F-4 and F-5. Initial deliveries will be used for pilot conversion and maintenance training. 

KAI started work on the KF-21 in December 2015 and started flying the first prototype in July 2022. According to the Korean air force, which expects to have over 100 KF-21s in service by the 2030s, the prototype has made around 1,600 test flights to prove all aspects of performance, including aerial refuelling and air-to-air weapons.