The KF-21 Boramae is a South Korean twin-engine fighter developed to provide the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) with an indigenous multirole combat capability. The program was led by South Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD), which is credited with the aircraft's design. The primary objective of the project was to replace aging frontline aircraft, specifically the F-4D/E Phantom II and F-5E/F Tiger II fleets, with a modern platform capable of maintaining air superiority.
The aircraft first took to the skies on 19 July 2022. The initial production version is categorized as a 4.5-generation fighter, incorporating semi-stealth capabilities. While early blocks of the aircraft are focused on the air-superiority and multirole fighter roles, later development blocks are intended to expand the aircraft's strike capabilities and further enhance its stealth features.
Production is handled by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) at their facilities located in Sacheon, South Korea. The aircraft entered serial production in 2024. Due to the active nature of the program, total production figures vary across sources; some data indicates a planned total of 125 to 126 aircraft, while other records note a first batch of 40 aircraft ordered in February 2024, in addition to six prototypes.
Technically, the KF-21 is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines. While the broader series configuration is still being finalized, the first production aircraft has been identified as a two-seat jet. As the aircraft is currently in the production and rollout phase, it has not yet seen wartime service. Its legacy is defined by South Korea's strategic push to move away from reliance on foreign-designed airframes and toward a domestic aerospace industry capable of producing high-performance combat aircraft.