The fighter jet’s formal seal of approval from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was the final hurdle to overcome before entering frontline service this year.

South Korea’s domestically built KF-21 Boramae fighter jet received initial type certification this week, following a government review. The country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) awarded the type certification to Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) following a review of the Boramae’s airworthiness. It was described as the “final official recognition” of the 4.5-generation (Block 1) combat aircraft, according to a report from Aviation Week.

The review of the military airworthiness certification began in April 2021 and continued through April of this year. It was conducted to evaluate the operational capabilities of the fighter—specifically whether it could protect the pilot and operate safely, including in extreme environmental and flight conditions. It also evaluated the aircraft’s mission performance.

The DAPA confirmed at the 89th meeting of the development program this week that the KF-21 met a total of 745 inspection requirements across 14 distinct airworthiness categories. That included the aircraft’s structure, weapons integration and its electronic systems.

“The airworthiness certification capabilities and experience we have accumulated provided the foundation for objectively demonstrating the KF-21’s flight safety,” DAPA Deputy Minister Kim Il-dong told UPI.

“This will be a decisive factor in earning the confidence of prospective foreign buyers during future export efforts,” Kim said. “We expect the government-certified flight safety of the aircraft to contribute significantly to expanding South Korean defense exports.”

This certification paves the way for the first production KF-21 to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) in the second half of 2026.

The KF-21 Boramae’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 2022 (prototypes only)
• Number Built: 6 (prototypes only; 40 ordered)
• Length: 16.9 m (55 ft 4 in)
• Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 11.2 m (36 ft 7 in)
• Weight:
  • 11,800 kg (26,015 lb) empty
  • 17,200 kg (37,920 lb) standard conditions
  • 25,600 kg (56,400 lb) maximum takeoff weight
• Engines: Two General Electric F414-GE-400k turbofan; to be replaced by Hanwha turbofans in production variants
• Top Speed: ~2,140 km/h (1,330 mph) / Mach 1.8
• Range: Approx. 1,000 km (620 mi)
• Service Ceiling: Unknown; likely ~15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Loadout: One 20mm M61A2 Vulcan autocannon; 10 hardpoints, 7,700 kg (17,000 lb) total payload
• Aircrew: 1–2, depending on variant 

Could the Boramae Take the Place of the F-35?

Development of the KF-21 Boramae has been underway for more than a decade; in addition to serving with the RoKAF, Seoul has sought to export the Borame to foreign buyers. Although the Block 1 variant of the fighter jet lacks stealth capabilities, the KF-21 Block 2 version is being designed with semi-stealth or “near-stealth” capabilities, including an aerodynamic, low-observable airframe, flush antennas, and radar-absorbent materials (RAM). None of these are as effective as a dedicated stealth design, as the US-made F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters have, but they are better than nothing.

Aviation analysts have also noted that the Boramae isn’t a true fifth-generation aircraft like the Lockheed Martin F-35, as it lacks internal weapons bays and will still rely on external weapons hardpoints, which generally compromise stealth. The Block 3/FK-21EX is a planned variant that could introduce further fifth-generation capabilities, including an internal weapons bay and improved use of RAM to further improve the plane’s stealth characteristics.

Brandon J. Weichert, writing for The National Interest, explained earlier this year that the Block 3 could also benefit from South Korea’s efforts to develop indigenous new engines for the aircraft.

“The new Hanwha-made turbofan jet engines must produce around 16,000 pounds of dry thrust, which is important for sustained combat flight,” Weichert wrote, adding the domestically-made engines would replace the GE F414 powerplant. “Although the GE F414 series is an excellent jet engine for fighter planes, South Korea not only wants their indigenously made systems to compete on the global arms market, but they want the supply chain to be domestically sourced.”

South Korea’s Domestic Security Concerns Come First

Last year, South Korea scaled back its Block I order, only to increase it back to the planned 40 aircraft, all of which are on track to be delivered by 2028. The initial eight aircraft in this batch should be in service by the end of 2026.

An additional 80 KF-21s with enhanced ground-attack capabilities will be part of the Block II to follow, with the order completed by 2032.

The aircraft could further evolve into a true stealth fighter with Block III. But the first step to that began with this month’s certification.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

The post South Korea’s KF-21 Jet Fighter Just Got Its Final Certification appeared first on The National Interest.

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