In 2002, research and development (R&D) requirements were determined by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The KF-X advanced multirole jet fighter project, intended to produce modern warplanes to replace South Korea's aging F-4D/E Phantom II and F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft, was first announced in March 2001 by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung at a graduation ceremony of the Korea Air Force Academy. Background The KF-21 production line, July 2021 It will also be available for export market. At least 40 aircraft are planned to be delivered by 2028, with South Korea expecting to deploy 120 of the aircraft by 2032. The first test flight was on 19 July 2022, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in 2026. It was named the Boramae ( Korean: 보라매, "young hawk" or "fighting hawk"). In April 2021, the first prototype was completed and unveiled during a rollout ceremony at the headquarters of KAI at Sacheon Airport. The KAI KF-X is South Korea's second domestic fighter jet development program, following the FA-50. Indonesia took a 20% stake in the program in 2010 and participate the program through Indonesian Aerospace since the start of KF21 development in 2011, and the remaining 20% is held by private partners including the manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The program is led by the South Korean government, which holds 60% of the program's shares.
The airframe is stealthier than any fourth-generation fighter, but does not carry weapons in internal bays like fifth-generation fighters, though internal bays may be introduced later in development.
The KAI KF-21 Boramae (formerly known as KF-X) is a South Korean-led fighter aircraft development program with the goal of producing an advanced multirole fighter for the South Korean and Indonesian air forces.
Korea Aerospace Industries / Indonesian Aerospace