South Korea inducts first production KF-21 fighter
The first production Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 Boramae Block I 4.5-generation fighter ahead of its delivery to Yecheon Air Base in South Korea in September 2026. (Republic of Korea Air Force)
The first production Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 Boramae (Young Hawk) Block I fighter has been delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).
The aircraft, a two-seat variant with the tail number 26-001, was flown to Yecheon Air Base in Gyeongsangbuk-do province on 22 September, where it will be operated by the reactivated 156th Fighter Squadron of the 16th Fighter Wing, the RoKAF said.
According to the air force, Major Han Jae-seok, one of its first KF-21-qualified pilots, signed the ‘KF-21 Series Production No 1 Acceptance and Handover Document' that day, marking the official induction of the first series-production KF-21 into the service.
The 156th Fighter Squadron, established in 1988, operated the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom fighter until it was disbanded in 2012. Reactivated as a KF-21 unit on 1 June, the squadron has an initial cadre of pilots and mechanics assigned for training, according to the RoKAF.
The service said it plans to gradually establish operational systems for flight and maintenance while continuing pilot conversion and maintenance personnel training.
“After that, the KF-21 will be declared operational in the second half of 2027 and deployed operationally,” the RoKAF added.
According to KAI chief test pilot Jin Tae-beom, the aircraft has an auto-throttle feature that adjusts speed during take-off, landing, and formation flight.
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