South Korea aims to produce up to 120 KF-21 Boramae fighter jets by the early 2030s, with the initial batch of around 20 aircraft scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2027.
Once operational, the domestically developed KF-21s will replace the Republic of Korea Air Force’s aging U.S.-built F-4 and F-5 fleets.
Each KF-21 measures 17 meters (57 feet) in length with an 11-meter (36-foot) wingspan and carries up to 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds) of fuel.
It is powered by twin Hanwha/General Electric F414 engines generating a combined 110,000 horsepower, giving it an operational range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,778 kilometers/1,726 miles), a service ceiling of 16,700 meters (54,790 feet), and a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (2,223 kilometers/1,381 miles per hour).
