South Korea Completes Development of KF-21 Fighter Jet, Enhancing Defense Capabilities
South Korea has officially completed the development of its first homegrown KF-21 fighter jet, a project that began in 2015 with the aim of replacing the country's aging fleet of U.S.-made F-4 and F-5 jets. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the completion, marking a significant milestone in South Korea's defense capabilities. The project, which cost approximately 8.8 trillion won (US$6.04 billion), saw the rollout of the first KF-21 prototype in April 2021. The fighter jet has successfully passed the final combat suitability review, meeting all performance requirements. Over 1,600 flight trials have been conducted without any accidents. The first batch of 40 KF-21 jets is expected to be delivered to the Air Force by 2028, with an additional 80 aircraft to be produced by 2032. 
