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[iNews24 Reporter Choi Ran] South Korea’s indigenous fighter, the KF-21, received a “combat‑suitable” certification, clearing the final systems‑development milestone. The decision signals that South Korea has secured an independent fighter‑development capability.
On May 7, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the KF-21 received the combat‑suitable certification.
The certification confirms that follow‑up testing carried out over roughly three years since the provisional “combat‑suitable” finding in May 2023 has completed verification of all KF‑21 Block‑I functions (basic performance and air‑to‑air capability).
South Korea began KF‑21 systems development in December 2015. The program started initial test evaluations in May 2021 and conducted about five years of ground testing through February 2026 to verify durability and structural integrity.
Engineers also completed about 1,600 flight tests, validating the KF‑21’s flight performance and stability across roughly 13,000 flight‑test conditions, including aerial refueling and weapons‑release trials.
DAPA said the results show the KF‑21 meets the Air Force’s required operational capability (ROC) and has reached the technical maturity and reliability needed to conduct missions in real combat environments.
The KF‑21 program is scheduled to complete systems development in June. The first production aircraft will be delivered to the Air Force in the second half of this year, with additional aircraft entering service sequentially. Further weapons tests will complete the jet’s air‑to‑ground armament capabilities.
Noh Ji‑man, head of DAPA’s Korean Fighter Program Office, called the combat‑suitable certification “the fruit of close cooperation among the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Air Force, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and the Agency for Defense Development.” He added that it is a symbolic achievement demonstrating South Korea has fully secured independent fighter‑development capability.
He said the agency will proceed with production and fielding without delay to further strengthen the Air Force’s operational capabilities.
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