Sacheon: Far down the sprawling runway of the Air Force's 52nd Test Flight Group, a sleek gray aircraft emerged through the heat haze, gathering speed with an ear-splitting roar before soaring into the cloudless sky in a matter of seconds. The thunderous takeoff of the KF-21 fighter jet took place during a test flight shown to the press in the southern city of Sacheon, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, demonstrating the readiness and capabilities of the country's first domestically developed fighter jet program.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the test flight was designed to evaluate the performance of the air-to-ground mode of the aircraft. Lt. Col. Jeon Seung-hyun, commander of the 281st Test Flight Squadron, commented on the rigorous monitoring of the prototypes, explaining that every detail, including the pilot's breathing, is tracked in real time from the mission control room.
The KF-21 program has been a long-term ambition for South Korea, with initial plans dating back to 2001 under then President Kim Dae-jung. Officially launched in December 2015, the KF-21 Boramae project, a collaboration with Indonesia, aims to create an advanced supersonic aircraft to replace aging F-4 and F-5 jets. The first phase of production is currently underway, with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) set to deliver 40 jets focused on air-to-air capabilities by 2028, including at least eight units by the end of this year.
At KAI's massive 21,000-square-meter facility in Sacheon, 20 KF-21 fighter jets are in various stages of assembly. The facility is divided into sections, with the KF-21s on one side and FA-50 light attack aircraft on the other. KAI official Lee Sang-hwi noted that while aircraft manufacturing has yet to fully integrate robotics, some robots assist in the assembly process.
The development of the KF-21 jets establishes a platform for South Korea to export indigenous fighter jets and integrated weapons systems. KAI's President and CEO Kim Jong-chool emphasized the strategic importance of the program, stating that it could help the country achieve its goal of becoming one of the world's top four defense powers. Discussions are underway for potential exports to countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Poland, with ambitions to sell up to 1,000 units.
Kim highlighted the critical nature of the second phase of production, known as "Block-II," which is scheduled to start next year. Addressing concerns over potential delays due to cost overruns, he stressed the importance of continued investment to maintain production capacity and support subcontractors, ultimately leaving final decisions to the government and the military.