South Korea completes KF-21 flight testing, moves toward mass production

Officials pose for a photo after completing the KF-21 development flight test program. Courtesy of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration
SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korea has completed a test flight of the KF-21 fighter jet, a 4.5-generation aircraft developed largely with domestic technology, clearing a key hurdle toward mass production and deployment.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Tuesday that the flight-test campaign for the KF-21 had concluded successfully. The agency plans to complete system development in the first half of this year and begin delivering aircraft to the South Korean Air Force in the second half.

The KF-21 program is one of South Korea’s largest defense projects, intended to replace the Air Force’s aging F-4 and F-5 fighters with a more advanced platform designed for future operational requirements. The aircraft is positioned between fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, combining improved sensors, weapons integration and survivability.

Over a 42-month testing period, the KF-21 logged roughly 1,600 flights without an accident, the agency said, and verified flight stability and performance across about 13,000 test conditions.

Prime Minister Kim Min Seok visited the Korea Aerospace Industries on Jan. 7, touring the KF-21 production line and inspecting onboard systems, the agency said.

Noh Ji-man, head of DAPA’s Korea Fighter Program Division, called the KF-21 “the culmination of our aviation technology” and said the aircraft is expected to compete with advanced fighters in the global market.

He said the agency will focus on ensuring additional weapons testing, mass production and operational deployment proceed without disruption.
Jun Sung-min 기자 ball@ajunews.com