Defense officials and lawmakers caution that delaying the KF-21 rollout could leave the air force with an operational gap as older fighters are retired faster than replacements arrive.The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) had planned to induct 40 KF-21 fighters by 2028 to replace aging F-4 and F-5 aircraft slated for retirement. The initial acquisition, valued at 8.4 trillion won, was designed to prevent a sharp decline in fighter strength as more than 100 legacy jets are phased out by the end of the decade.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has informed defense authorities that sustaining the original schedule would be difficult under current budget conditions. As a result, a proposal has been floated to postpone completion of the first 40 aircraft to 2029.

The procurement plan initially required annual allocations exceeding 1.5 trillion won over five years. However, funding approved in 2024 and 2025 fell short of that benchmark, amounting to roughly 230 billion won and 1.1 trillion won, respectively. The shortfall has effectively back-loaded the program, forcing projected annual spending to rise to nearly 3 trillion won in the latter years if the original 2028 deadline is maintained.

The challenge is compounded by plans to begin a follow-on program for an additional 80 KF-21 fighters next year. With multiple large-scale airpower projects converging, fiscal authorities have reportedly warned that trade-offs may be unavoidable — either by scaling back KF-21 funding or trimming other key programs, including additional F-35A stealth fighters or new aerial refueling aircraft.

Defense officials and lawmakers caution that delaying the KF-21 rollout could leave the air force with an operational gap as older fighters are retired faster than replacements arrive.

“Unless this issue is urgently reviewed by fiscal authorities, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, there is a real risk that airpower gaps will emerge and heighten security uncertainty,” said Baek Sun-hee, a member of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said it is examining various options and will work closely with the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force to minimize the impact on force operations.

As regional security pressures intensify, the debate over the KF-21 schedule highlights the growing tension between fiscal constraints and the need for sustained, long-term investment in core defense capabilities.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

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