Sacheon: South Korea's first homegrown supersonic fighter jet, the KF-21, has entered the final assembly phase, marking a significant milestone in the nation's aerospace industry. A ceremony was held at Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.'s headquarters in Sacheon to commemorate this pivotal stage in the jet's development.
According to Anadolu Agency, the event was reported by the Yonhap news agency, citing the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). During this phase, the KF-21 will be fully assembled with both external and internal components and will undergo a series of performance tests before moving on to flight testing. This development comes as part of South Korea's initiative, launched in 2015, to replace the aging fleet of US-made F-5 aircraft in its air force.
The first model of the 4.5-generation fighter jet is anticipated to be delivered to the air force next year. In June of last year, Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd, and DAPA secured a $1.41 billion contract to construct 20 KF-21s by 2027. This is part of a broader plan by Seoul to have 120 KF-21s operational by 2032.