South Korea’s supersonic fighter jet, the KF-21 Boramae, recently entered mass production, drawing attention from the global defense industry, including Asia and Europe. One key factor in this attention is its competitive pricing.
According to industry sources yesterday, the French military magazine Meta Défense France highlighted the KF-21 Boramae, emphasizing its cost advantage. The publication noted, “The KF-21 has a price advantage over the Rafale and Typhoon while offering excellent performance thanks to its proven technology and scalable development.” It also mentioned that the KF-21 is a candidate for Peru’s next-generation fighter program, alongside France’s Rafale, describing the KF-21 as an economical and industrial alternative to Russian aircraft.
The KF-21 Boramae is a supersonic fighter developed by South Korea through a collaboration between Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). The first KF-21 to enter mass production last month is scheduled for delivery to the Air Force by late 2026, with 120 units to be deployed by 2032. KAI and the Air Force plan to deploy the initial Block-1 units, focusing on air-to-air combat capabilities, by 2028. Afterward, the Block-2 units, which will have additional air-to-ground and air-to-ship combat capabilities, will be successively deployed to enhance the jet’s multi-role capabilities.
The KF-21 incorporates stealth technology to reduce radar cross-sections and can perform air combat and ground attack missions. It also integrates cutting-edge technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI and big data. As a 4.5th-generation fighter, the KF-21 bridges the gap between 4th—and 5th-generation fighters.
The KF-21’s competitors include the Dassault Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the F-16 and F-15EX. While the exact price of the KF-21 has not been disclosed, it is said to be 30 to 40% cheaper than these rival models. A KAI official stated, “Since we are just beginning mass production, it’s difficult to provide a definite figure, but overall, the price is expected to be competitive.”
The Philippines has also shown interest in the KF-21. The country sent a Request for Information (RFI) to KAI late last month, asking for technical and other critical details. A KAI official confirmed, “While it’s true that the Philippines is interested and considering the KF-21, it’s unlikely that a concrete decision will be made this year. We are still in the early stages of mass production, and details regarding the project’s scale or timeline have not been revealed. Currently, we are focusing on marketing and responding to inquiries.”
Meanwhile, KAI is working to further evolve the KF-21 Boramae into a next-generation air combat model suitable for future warfare. As part of the Next-generation Air Combat System (NACS) plan, the KF-21 will be equipped with a manned-unmanned collaborative data link and operate alongside multi-purpose unmanned aircraft (AAP).
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