South Korea’s first indigenously developed fighter jet, the KF-21, has been unveiled. This is a significant milestone for South Korea’s aviation and military sectors. The single-engine FA-50 Golden Eagle was already in use by the South Korean Air Force despite having been developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin of the United States. However, the twin-engine KF-21 is more advanced than its predecessor and boasts a longer range as well as a heavier payload. It also features new technologies, such as thrust vectoring. This new development comes at an important time for South Korea’s aviation industry, which has been on an upward trajectory since 2017 due to increasing demand for the FA-50 Golden Eagle.
The KF-21 is a light attack aircraft that can be used for air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. It’s also capable of carrying out reconnaissance and surveillance tasks, according to its manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
In aviation terms, the KF-21 is considered a multirole combat aircraft—a class of planes that can perform more than one kind of mission on the same flight (think F/A 18 Super Hornet or Rafale). In addition to being agile enough to dogfight with enemy planes and strike targets from above, it has four hardpoints that allow it to carry guided missiles, bombs, or rockets under each wing.
The Royal Saudi Air Force ordered 28 KF-21s in 2017 after considering bids from Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems for new fighter jets earlier this year; those orders have yet to be fulfilled because Saudi Arabia hasn’t signed off on them yet due largely to political reasons around human rights abuses by Riyadh against civilians in Yemen as well as concerns over how much money could go into defense spending instead of education/healthcare programs back home.
The FA-50 Golden Eagle, which was developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in partnership with Lockheed Martin of the US, is already in use by the South Korean Air Force.
FA-50 was designed to be a light attack plane and can carry bombs and rockets. It has a single engine and can fly at speeds up to 940 km/h (588 mph). Since it’s an older model, it’s not as advanced as other planes on this list—but its relatively low price makes it attractive for countries looking for affordable aircraft that aren’t top-of-the-line.
As you might expect from an aircraft made by KAI—which is South Korea’s primary weapons manufacturer—the FA-50 shares some similarities with other planes produced by this company: namely, its twin engines and single tail fin make it look similar to several fighter jets built for South Korea’s military over the last several decades.
However, the new KF-21 aircraft is more advanced than its single-engine counterpart.
The KF-21 boasts a longer range and heavier payload than the FA-50, which is a light attack plane with limited capabilities. The twin-engine KF-21 can carry 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) of ordnance; that’s about one ton more than the FA-50. And its maximum range of 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) is 100 kilometers longer than its predecessor’s.
The KF-21 Boramae is the result of decades of innovation and investment in South Korea’s aerospace industry. It represents the country’s commitment to developing its own defense capabilities, rather than relying on foreign suppliers for military equipment. In addition, it signifies the culmination of years of collaboration between government and industry: a partnership that has led to some impressive technological advancements. With this new jet fighter now unveiled, it seems likely that South Korea will continue to be a player in global aviation markets for many years to come.
KF-21 will be built individually to develop as private and military aircraft. KF-X is the end product aircraft in the fighter KFX program which will be constructed in 2023. Once produced, it will involve fighter factories and many defense companies. The task of building the jet has been assigned to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with an operating contract that runs through 2038. Experts predict the final cost at $10 billion, much lower than the $13 billion price tag for Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II.
