South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a ceremony on Tuesday to mark the start of the final assembly stage of the first mass-produced unit of the KF-21, the country’s first domestically developed fighter jet. The event took place at the fixed-wing facility of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
More than 80 officials attended the event, including representatives from the Ministry of National Defense, the ROK Air Force, the Agency for Defense Development, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, and companies involved in the mass production contract.
Since launching the first mass production project in July 2024, the KF-21 has progressed from machining small parts to producing components and assembling the front, center, and rear fuselage sections. It has now officially entered the final assembly stage.
The final assembly stage involves attaching structural components such as the fuselage and wings to complete the aircraft’s outer form. This is followed by installing various systems, including electronic equipment and engines, and testing to ensure proper functionality. This phase marks a critical milestone in the aircraft’s production process, signaling that the jet is now ready to enter the ground and flight testing phases.
The first mass-produced KF-21, now entering final assembly, is scheduled to undergo acceptance testing by the Air Force and be delivered in the second half of 2026. The KF-21 development project has spanned 10 years and 6 months.
According to KAI, more than 600 South Korean partner companies are participating in the mass production of the KF-21 to achieve a 65% localization rate. The aircraft began prototype flight testing in July 2022 and has demonstrated various operational capabilities such as aerial refueling and air-to-air weapon launches. It continues to evolve into a highly capable fighter suitable for future battlefields.
Jeong Kyu Heon, Director General of DAPA’s Future Combat Capabilities Bureau, stated that the historic moment of entering the final assembly phase of the KF-21 was made possible by the dedicated efforts of researchers and developers. He emphasized the importance of smooth communication and close cooperation between the government, manufacturers, and subcontractors to ensure successful mass production and deployment, boosting the national economy and elevating South Korea’s global standing.
KAI Vice President Cha Jae Byung stated that despite numerous challenges, the KF-21 system development project has advanced to the production phase thanks to cooperation among DAPA, the government, the Air Force, and development companies. He pledged that all KAI personnel will devote their full efforts to ensure flawless execution and on-time delivery.
Meanwhile, DAPA announced that it will continue to work closely with the Ministry of National Defense, the Air Force, and relevant contractors to ensure the stable mass production and timely deployment of the KF-21. It also plans to provide ongoing support to enhance the aircraft’s export competitiveness in the global defense market.
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