KF-21 Boramae by Korea Aerospace Industries: status and timeline

KF-21 Boramae

Give South Korea a fighter it designs, builds and upgrades itself, replacing ageing F-4s and F-5s, and open a new export product for Korean industry.

DeployStage 4 of 5

First production jet delivered 22 Sep 2026; 40 Block I on order for delivery by 2028.

Updated 19d agoChecked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · 40 Block I jets delivered

System development beginsDec 2015Complete.
First prototype flight19 Jul 2022Complete.
First serial contract: 20 jets25 Jun 2024Complete.
First production jet rolled out25 Mar 2026Complete.
First production jet delivered to ROKAF22 Sep 2026Complete.
40 Block I jets deliveredTarget 2028Current milestone.
80 Block II jets delivered (fleet of 120)Target 2032Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

202840 Block I jets delivered (next)
203280 Block II jets delivered (fleet of 120)

Current obstacles

Engine depends on US approvalUS-designed engines mean any export needs US consent. A Korean 16,000 lbf-class engine is in development, aimed at a later, stealthier version around 2040.
Finding a first export buyerIndonesia cut its stake from 20% to 7.5% and is negotiating for 16 jets; the Philippines and UAE are interested. No binding deal was confirmed by mid-2026.

Physics limits

Weapons outside break stealthMissiles and fuel tanks under the wings reflect radar strongly. True stealth needs internal bays, which add weight, volume and a deeper, heavier fuselage.
Speed costs fuel fastEngine afterburners spray fuel into the exhaust for extra thrust, burning several times more fuel. Supersonic dashes therefore shrink combat range sharply.
The airframe caps upgradesRoom for fuel, sensors, cooling and electrical power is fixed by the airframe. New capabilities must fit within it, so each block trades one thing for another.

How it works

4 parts

Airframe

Shaped to reflect less radar

Angled surfaces and aligned edges cut its radar echo, but early jets carry weapons outside, so it is semi-stealthy rather than fully stealthy.

Radar

Electronically steered radar

About 1,000 small transmitter modules steer the beam electronically, with no moving dish, tracking around 20 targets 150-200 km away.

Power

Two proven engines

Two F414 engines, the type in the Super Hornet, give supersonic speed; using a proven engine removed a major development risk.

Upgrades

Block by block

Block I is for air combat; Block II adds ground and ship attack; a later Block III would add internal weapon bays for real stealth.

Spec sheet

Spec	KF-21 Boramae
Length	16.9 m^R (reported)
Wingspan	11.2 m^R (reported)
Max takeoff weight	25,400 kg^R (reported)
Max speed	Mach 1.8 (reached in testing)^R (reported)
Engines	2x GE F414 (licence-built by Hanwha)^R (reported)
Weapon stations	10^R (reported)
Development cost	~8.8 trillion won (~$7.8B)^R (reported)
Planned ROKAF fleet	120 by 2032^R (reported)

^R reported by the company · ^E our estimate

Peer comparison

Combat aircraft peers

Spec	KF-21 Boramae	Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (AVIC) J-36	Turkish Aerospace (TAI) KAAN
Length	16.9 m^R (reported)	Estimated 22–26 m^E (estimated)	20.3 m^R (reported)
Wingspan	11.2 m^R (reported)	—	13.4 m^R (reported)
Max takeoff weight	25,400 kg^R (reported)	—	34,750 kg^R (reported)
Max speed	Mach 1.8 (reached in testing)^R (reported)	—	Mach 1.8^R (reported)
Engines	2x GE F414 (licence-built by Hanwha)^R (reported)	3 (two in fuselage, one on top)^R (reported)	2x GE F110-GE-129, 131 kN each with afterburner^R (reported)

^R reported by the company · ^E our estimate

Update log

4 updates

About Korea Aerospace Industries

The team behind KF-21 Boramae

Korea Aerospace Industries

KF-21 fighter, FA-50, helicopters, satellites

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is South Korea's main aircraft maker, based in Sacheon. It builds the KF-21 Boramae fighter, the T-50/FA-50 jet trainers and light fighters, Surion helicopters and satellites. It was formed in 1999 from the aircraft units of Samsung, Daewoo and Hyundai.

First production KF-21 handed to the air force on 22 Sep 2026; 40 Block I jets are on order for delivery by 2028.
Seoul plans 120 KF-21s by 2032. Indonesia is negotiating to buy 16; the Philippines, UAE and Poland are among other reported prospects.
2025 revenue was about 3.7 trillion won. The state Export-Import Bank of Korea is the largest shareholder (26.4%).

koreaaero.com (opens koreaaero.com)Company profile →

Founded: 199927 yrs
Headquarters: South Korea
Status: Public
Listed: 047810 (opens google.com)KRX
Valuation: public
Works in: AviationCombat aircraft
Coverage: 1 program · 4 updateslatest 19d agochecked 11 Oct
Customers: Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) (opens defensenews.com)
Investors: Export-Import Bank of Korea (opens koreatimes.co.kr)
Suppliers: Hanwha Aerospace (opens defensenews.com)
People: Kim Jong-chool (opens koreatimes.co.kr)CEO (since March 2026)

Spec

KF-21 Boramae

Length

16.9 m^R (reported)

Wingspan

11.2 m^R (reported)

Max takeoff weight

25,400 kg^R (reported)

Max speed

Mach 1.8 (reached in testing)^R (reported)

Engines

2x GE F414 (licence-built by Hanwha)^R (reported)

Weapon stations

10^R (reported)

Development cost

~8.8 trillion won (~$7.8B)^R (reported)

Planned ROKAF fleet

120 by 2032^R (reported)

Spec

KF-21 Boramae

Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (AVIC) J-36

Turkish Aerospace (TAI) KAAN

Length

16.9 m^R (reported)

Estimated 22–26 m^E (estimated)

20.3 m^R (reported)

Wingspan

11.2 m^R (reported)

—

13.4 m^R (reported)

Max takeoff weight

25,400 kg^R (reported)

—

34,750 kg^R (reported)

Max speed

Mach 1.8 (reached in testing)^R (reported)

—

Mach 1.8^R (reported)

Engines

2x GE F414 (licence-built by Hanwha)^R (reported)

3 (two in fuselage, one on top)^R (reported)

2x GE F110-GE-129, 131 kN each with afterburner^R (reported)

KF-21 Boramae

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Shaped to reflect less radar

Electronically steered radar

Two proven engines

Block by block

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Tue 22 Sep

Wed 25 Mar

Jun 2025

Tue 25 Jun 2024

About Korea Aerospace Industries

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Shaped to reflect less radar

Electronically steered radar

Two proven engines

Block by block

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Tue 22 Sep

Wed 25 Mar

Jun 2025

Tue 25 Jun 2024

About Korea Aerospace Industries