At Sacheon Air Base in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea and the UAE have carried out a joint flight of the homegrown KF-21 Boramae, underscoring the nations’ expanding military collaboration. The demonstration follows a letter of intent signed in April 2025 pledging “comprehensive cooperation” on the fighter program.
The move aligns with Seoul’s broader push for joint defense initiatives with Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern nations, ahead of the KF-21’s anticipated entry into South Korean service before 2030.
Although the UAE’s potential purchase of the next-generation jet has not been confirmed, defense insiders say its participation signals a clear interest in the aircraft. The flight coincided with tests of the sixth KF-21 prototype, focusing on operational readiness and flight control performance.
To date, the program has completed over 1,300 flights—roughly 70 percent of the Block 1 testing schedule. South Korea plans to introduce up to 120 KF-21 fighters by the early 2030s, with the first 20 slated for delivery between 2026 and 2027, replacing the country’s long-serving F-4 and F-5 strike aircraft.
