Test pilots and program officials pose for a commemorative photo in front of the KF-21 Boramae’s fourth prototype on Jan. 12, following the successful completion of the fighter’s final development flight test. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on Jan. 13 that the KF-21 has concluded all planned development flight tests, following more than 1,600 accident-free sorties conducted over a 42-month period. The first mass-produced aircraft are scheduled for delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) in the second half of this year.

The milestone marks the transition of the KF-21 from a development program into a near-operational weapons system—one that Seoul sees as central to replacing aging F-4 and F-5 fleets while reinforcing air superiority amid rising regional tensions.

Flight testing began after the first prototype rollout in April 2021 and was conducted jointly by the Ministry of National Defense, the ROK Air Force, the Agency for Defense Development, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

The final development sortie took place on Jan. 12, when the fourth prototype conducted performance verification flights over the southern coastal areas of Namhae and Sacheon. According to DAPA, the aircraft was evaluated against roughly 13,000 test conditions, covering flight stability, envelope expansion, avionics integration, and mission systems performance.

Notably, the test campaign included air-to-air weapons separation trials, conducted with maritime safety support from South Korea’s Navy, Coast Guard, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Engineers also validated high-risk flight regimes, including recovery from extreme attitudes—tests considered essential for certifying a modern multirole fighter.

DAPA said efficiency gains were achieved by expanding test operations beyond Sacheon Air Base to Seosan and by introducing aerial refueling during flight tests for the first time in a domestically developed fighter program. These measures enabled the campaign to conclude two months ahead of schedule, a rare outcome for a clean-sheet fighter development effort.

With flight testing complete, the program now shifts to final system development and production ramp-up. DAPA plans to finalize system integration in the first half of this year, after which deliveries of Block I aircraft to the ROKAF will begin.

Block I aircraft are optimized primarily for air-to-air missions, focusing on defensive counter-air and air superiority roles. Once operational, the KF-21 will represent South Korea’s first domestically developed fighter in the 4.5-generation class, bridging the gap between legacy platforms and future sixth-generation ambitions.

Senior South Korean officials have framed the program as both a military and industrial achievement. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited KAI’s production facilities on Jan. 7, inspecting the assembly line and internal systems while receiving briefings on operational concepts and export prospects.

“The KF-21 is the culmination of South Korea’s aerospace technology,” said Noh Ji-man, director of DAPA’s Korean Fighter Program Office. “It is designed not only to meet our operational needs, but also to compete credibly in the global fighter market.”

Beyond domestic deployment, the program is showing signs of renewed export traction—most notably with Indonesia, a long-time but troubled development partner.

According to a Jan. 8 report by Janes, Indonesia is now considering the purchase of 16 KF-21 Block II fighters, a move that would mark a significant reversal after years of uncertainty caused by delayed cost-sharing payments.

The discussions reportedly took place during a closed-door meeting on Jan. 7 at Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense in Jakarta. The meeting followed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal—raised with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during the October 2025 APEC summit—to revive KF-21 cooperation on a more sustainable footing.

The talks were chaired by Air Commodore Jon Ginting of Indonesia’s Defense Logistics Agency, with KAI representing South Korea and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) attending on the Indonesian side.

At the center of the discussions was the possibility of South Korean export financing, potentially backed by the Export-Import Bank of Korea. According to Janes, Jakarta is seeking export credit arrangements that would both ease its outstanding financial obligations related to the KF-21 program and help fund the acquisition of new aircraft.

The proposed 16-aircraft buy corresponds to the minimum strength required for a single Indonesian Air Force fighter squadron, suggesting a more incremental and fiscally manageable approach than earlier plans to acquire up to 48 jets.

Indonesia’s reported interest centers on the KF-21 Block II, a more capable multirole variant that integrates air-to-ground and anti-ship strike capabilities absent from the initial Block I configuration.

Block II is expected to support precision-guided munitions, long-range air-to-surface missiles, and enhanced sensor fusion—features seen as particularly relevant for Indonesia’s geographically dispersed, maritime-heavy operational environment.

Analysts view the Block II proposal as a pragmatic compromise: it reduces upfront costs for Jakarta while allowing Seoul to re-establish Indonesia as an operational customer rather than a financially strained development partner.

However, key variables—including delivery timelines, unit pricing, weapons packages, industrial participation, and financing terms—remain unresolved. Defense officials caution that additional negotiations will be required before any contract can be finalized.

The convergence of flight-test completion, impending domestic deployment, and renewed export interest significantly strengthens the KF-21’s outlook at a time when the global fighter market is increasingly polarized between high-end fifth-generation platforms and cost-effective 4.5-generation alternatives.

For South Korea, the KF-21 is more than a replacement aircraft. It is a strategic statement—demonstrating sovereign design, systems integration competence, and the ability to manage complex fighter development programs largely with domestic technology.

If Indonesia’s Block II talks translate into a firm order, the deal would not only stabilize a previously fragile partnership but also serve as a powerful validation of the KF-21’s export credibility—potentially opening doors in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

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