South Korea moves to speed up KF-21 Block 2, maritime helicopter acquisitions

A KAI KF-21 model with underslung air-to-air missiles, drop tanks, and smart air-to-ground bombs is displayed at DSEI Japan 2025. (Janes/Manash Pratim Boruah)

South Korea has announced that it is accelerating the acquisition of the Block 2 version of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 ‘Boramae' fighter aircraft for the air force, while progressing a plan to replace the navy's legacy Westland WG13 Lynx Mk 99 helicopters with a new rotary-wing platform.

The decisions were made during the 170th meeting of the Defense Acquisition Program Committee on 8 August, according to South Korea's Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

Janes has previously reported that the KF-21 Block 2 is an improved version of the KF-21 Block 1 and will have the ability to carry and launch air-to-ground weapons. The committee's revision of the KF-21 project plan on 8 August approves additional weapon testing to rapidly develop the Block 2 variant's air-to-ground weapon capabilities in stages, DAPA said.

“The actual deployment of the KF-21 Block 2 … will be faster than planned. The air-to-ground weapon capability was originally planned to be installedin bulk [into the KF-21 Block 2] by the end of 2028, but the plan has been revised to apply them in stages starting from the first half of 2027,” South Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on 10 August.

“As a result, the RoKAF [Republic of Korea Air Force] is expected to secure an ‘evolved aircraft' within a year after the KF-21 Block 1, which has air-to-air capabilities,” the MND added. Janes has previously reported that the RoKAF will begin inducting the KF-21 Block 1 from late 2026.