Aircraft & UAVs

KAI KF-21 Boramae

Also known as
  • KF-21
  • KF-21 Boramae
  • KF-X

The KAI KF-21 Boramae is a South Korean F414-powered multirole fighter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries for the Republic of Korea Air Force. Its public record is strongest as a flight-test and early-production program: KAI records the first flight, supersonic flight, and Meteor/AIM-2000 separation tests, while 2026 production reporting places first ROKAF deliveries in the second half of 2026.

KAI KF-21 Boramae, Fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File:KF-21_Boramae_First_Production.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Role in Conflicts

2015 Various Conflicts
Side
Unconfirmed conflict context

As of June 2026, cited sources place the KF-21 in flight test, weapons-integration trials, and planned Republic of Korea Air Force deliveries rather than named combat operations.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
South Korea
Type
Fighter aircraft
Service note
2020s-present
Produced
2024-present
Number built
Six prototypes flown; first production aircraft rolled out March 2026
Developed from
KF-X program

Specifications

Empty weight
11,800 kg
Maximum takeoff weight
25,600 kg
Length
16.9 m
Height
4.7 m
Speed
Mach 1.8 class
Range
About 2,900 km
Maximum payload
About 7,700 kg
Powerplant
Two GE F414-400K afterburning turbofan engines
Variants

Public program sources distinguish the KF-21 by development prototypes, initial Block 1 production aircraft, and later air-to-ground capability growth rather than by separate public catalog records.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
KF-21 prototypesDevelopment and flight-test aircraft

KAI's program history records the first prototype rollout, first flight, first supersonic flight, weapons-separation tests, and the sixth prototype's first flight in 2023.

Sources: KF-21 | KAI

KF-21 Block 1Initial ROKAF production standard

Aviation Week reported the first KF-21 Blk. 1 production-aircraft rollout at Sacheon in March 2026, while Yonhap reported a 40-aircraft delivery plan through 2028.

Sources: KAI Rolls Out First KF-21 Blk. 1 Production Aircraft, Korea Aerospace signs second KF-21 production deal worth 2.39 tln won

KF-21 Block 2 / SPEAR integration pathPlanned air-to-ground growth configuration

MBDA says KAI and MBDA signed an October 2025 memorandum of understanding for SPEAR air-to-ground missile integration on the KF-21.

Sources: Integration of the SPEAR missiles onto the KF-21 Boramae fighter

Carried Munitions

Public integration evidence currently supports a linked catalog relationship for Meteor, with additional KF-21 missile work documented in the integration section below.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Meteor, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsMeteorBeyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

KAI records a Meteor separation test during KF-21 development, and MBDA describes Meteor as already fitted to the Korean fighter while it expands cooperation with KAI.

Sources: KF-21 | KAI, Integration of the SPEAR missiles onto the KF-21 Boramae fighter

Weapon Integration Milestones

KF-21 public integration evidence is strongest for air-to-air testing and for planned air-to-ground growth after initial production.

Weapon or effortStatusDocumented context
Meteor, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsMeteorSeparation and integrationKAI records a Meteor separation test in March 2023, and MBDA describes Meteor as already fitted to the KF-21.
IRIS-T / AIM-2000Live firingDiehl Defence says a May 2024 guided firing used the KF-21 AESA radar to designate and engage a target drone.
SPEARAir-to-ground integration MoUMBDA says the October 2025 KAI-MBDA memorandum covers SPEAR integration to strengthen KF-21 precision-strike capability.

Sources: KF-21 | KAI; KAI KF-21 accomplished first successful firing of IRIS-T; Integration of the SPEAR missiles onto the KF-21 Boramae fighter.

Timeline

KAI KF-21 Boramae Key Events

  1. KF-X program gets under way

    KAI's program history notes the indigenous fighter development push and approval of the KF-X basic strategy in 2015.

    Sources: KF-21 | KAI

  2. First prototype roll-out

    KAI records the start of final assembly and the first prototype roll-out in the development timeline.

    Sources: KF-21 | KAI

  3. First flight

    KAI says the KF-21 completed its first flight on 19 July 2022.

    Sources: KF-21 | KAI

  4. Supersonic flight and weapons tests

    KAI's timeline records the first supersonic flight, followed by weapons separation tests with Meteor and AIM-2000.

    Sources: KF-21 | KAI

  5. First production aircraft roll-out

    Aviation Week reported that KAI rolled out the first KF-21 Blk. 1 production aircraft at Sacheon, with ROKAF delivery scheduled for September 2026.

    Sources: KAI Rolls Out First KF-21 Blk. 1 Production Aircraft

  6. Second production contract

    Yonhap reported that KAI signed a second production contract for 20 KF-21s, bringing the approved ROKAF delivery plan to 40 aircraft by 2028.

    Sources: Korea Aerospace signs second KF-21 production deal worth 2.39 tln won

Media

KAI KF-21 Boramae Videos

KAI KF-21 Boramae Images

KAI KF-21 Boramae, Fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: File:KF21ADEX-20.10.2023 2.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
KAI KF-21 Boramae, Fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: File:KF21-4.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
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Sources

KF-21 | KAIPublisher: Korea Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports KF-21 manufacturer background, program milestones, first flight, first supersonic flight, weapons separation tests, and the 2015 Various Conflicts status caveat for a test and production aircraft without named combat-use sourcing. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Category:Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 BoramaePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public specifications for the KF-21's mass, dimensions, speed, engine fit, and operator/manufacturer identity. | Accessed: 2026-06-29KAI Rolls Out First KF-21 Blk. 1 Production AircraftPublisher: Aviation Week | Note: Supports the March 2026 first-production roll-out, scheduled September 2026 delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force, Block 1 variant context, and the 2015 Various Conflicts status caveat for early production rather than named combat operations. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Korea Aerospace signs second KF-21 production deal worth 2.39 tln wonPublisher: Yonhap News Agency | Note: Supports the first-batch production contract, total 40-aircraft delivery plan, and H2 2026 delivery schedule. | Accessed: 2026-06-29KF-X: South Korea's first indigenous fighter jet has been revealedPublisher: GE Aerospace | Note: Supports GE F414-400K engine fit, speed, range, payload, and general KF-21 program background. | Accessed: 2026-06-29KAI KF-21 accomplished first successful firing of IRIS-TPublisher: Diehl Defence | Note: Supports the May 2024 KF-21 guided IRIS-T/AIM-2000 firing, AESA radar designation, target-drone engagement, and air-to-air integration context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Integration of the SPEAR missiles onto the KF-21 Boramae fighterPublisher: MBDA | Note: Supports Meteor fit, October 2025 KAI-MBDA SPEAR integration memorandum, and planned air-to-ground precision-strike growth. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:KF-21_Boramae_First_Production.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the lead KF-21 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:KF21ADEX-20.10.2023 2.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a KF-21 gallery image from Seoul ADEX 2023. | Accessed: 2026-06-29File:KF21-4.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a KF-21 production-line gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29