The first prototype of KF-21 Boramae (보라매; Hawk) fighter jet was rolled out April 10 in South Korea.
This marks the most significant milestone achieved by the KF-X Korean Fighter program which was officially launched in 2015. Although the initial plan for KF-X program was announced in 2001, it was followed by more than a decade of preliminary research, feasibility studies, and political debates. This prototype, along with five others, will begin flight tests in 2022.
A 4.5th gen fighter jet with a low-RCS design, the KF-21 Boramae is being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries in partnership with Lockheed Martin and various other Korean, US, and EU firms. Although the KF-21 looks the part, it is not a stealth fighter.
The KF-21 Boramae is South Korea’s attempt to build an affordable, yet capable replacement for its aging fleet of F-4, KF-5, and, eventually, the KF-16. When the KF-21 enters service with the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2026, it will serve alongside a mixed fleet of FA-50, KF-16V, F-15K, and F-35A.