UAE to ‘comprehensively co-operate' with South Korea on KF-21 fighter

The sixth KF-21 prototype flying in June 2023. (Defense Acquisition Program Administration)

The commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence (AFAD) signed a letter of intent covering “comprehensive co-operation” on South Korea's domestically developed KF-21 Boramae fighter on 16 April, the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) announced the same day.

It said the agreement was signed by its chief of staff, General Lee Young-soo, and Major General Rashid Mohammed al-Shamsi during a visit to Sacheon Air Base and includes visits to future exercises involving the KF-21 and related units.

The RoKAF released photographs showing that two KF-21 prototypes were displayed for the event at Sacheon Air Base, which shares its runway with one of Korea Aerospace Industries' facilities. The start of the serial production of the first batch of KF-21s was announced on 10 July 2024.

The RoKAF said on 15 April that the two commanders had signed an agreement to hold meetings every six months. Gen Lee also said the RoKAF would support the upcoming deployment of the Korean-made Cheongung-II (M-SAM II) air-defence systems that the UAE has ordered.

The UAE Ministry of Defence did not report either agreement.

For more information, please seeUAE signs for 80 Rafale F4 combat aircraft .