Key Highlights
- South Korea revealed its indigenous supersonic jet fighter KF-21.
- Planning a $5.2 billion program will create jobs and top export drivers.
- Mass development of KF-21.
Jet Fighter KF-21: The Backbone of the South Korean Air Force
South Korea revealed a prototype of the first locally built fighter jet. KF-21, nicknamed Boramae, or “young hawk trained for hunting,” at the Korea Aerospace Industries development plant by President Moon Jae. He praised the KF-X as the country’s strongest support for the air force. The KF-21 is a joint initiative between South Korea and Indonesia, with Seoul owning 80% and Jakarta vying for 20%. This was a move toward greater military freedom for South Korea. “A new era of independent defense has begun,” Moon said.
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Range of Activities
The KF-21 jet will be armed with a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, as well as potentially air-launched cruise missiles. The twin-engine fighters would be available in single- and two-seat configurations, depending on the mission.
Production of the Fighter Jet
After ground and flight tests, mass development of the KF-21 will begin, with a target of 40 jets deployed by 2028 and 120 by 2032. Full-scale manufacturing will create 100,000 new jobs. The total value of 5.9 trillion Korean won ($5.2 billion). The export will add more value to the South Korean economy.
Member of an Elite Group of Countries
After completion of the final tests, South Korea will be the eighth country in the world to have an advanced supersonic fighter. The counties are the United States, Russia, China, Japan, France, Sweden, and a European consortium comprised of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
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