KF-21 'Boramae' 'Provisional Combat Suitability Certification'

The KF-21 'Boramae', the first domestically produced fighter jet, has received a 'provisional combat suitability certification,' marking the start of mass production procedures after more than 20 years of project planning. The KF-21 is part of the Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) project, which effectively began in August 2001 when then-President Kim Dae-jung declared, "We will develop a domestically produced fighter jet by 2015."

On the 16th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that the KF-21 had obtained the provisional combat suitability certification, a key step toward initiating initial mass production next year.

Following feasibility analysis, exploratory development, confirmation of Required Operational Capability (ROC) and quantities, DAPA signed the main system development contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in December 2015 and commenced system development in January the following year. After the first prototype was delivered in April 2021, ground tests were conducted to verify durability, noise and vibration, and structural integrity.

Since its maiden flight in July last year, the KF-21 has completed 200 flight tests, demonstrating supersonic flight capability and night flight performance, and successfully conducted test flights equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Notably, the second prototype passed a test last month involving the release of an AIM-2000 short-range air-to-air missile during flight. Over the past two years, these various tests have verified approximately 260 test items, including aircraft speed, combat radius, and takeoff and landing distances.

Going forward, the KF-21 will undergo additional tests to assess stability and performance across all flight regimes, including low altitude, high altitude, low speed, and supersonic flight. Tests will also cover aerial refueling, guided air-to-air missile launches, and electronic warfare equipment. With the provisional combat suitability certification secured, DAPA is prepared to begin initial mass production of the KF-21 next year, aiming to obtain the 'final combat suitability' certification by 2026 and deliver the aircraft to the Air Force starting in the second half of 2026.