South Korea's KF-21 reaches assembly milestone

A KAI KF-21 prototype launches a mid-range air-to-air Meteor missile during trials in late 2023. (Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA))

South Korea's first mass-produced KF-21 fighter aircraft has entered its final assembly phase, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced.

During the phase, the KF-21's airframe structure will be fully assembled, and it will undergo fitment of its engine and electronic systems, before undergoing ground tests and flight trials, DAPA said on 20 May.

DAPA held a ceremony to mark the assembly phase at KF-21 manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries' production facilities in Sacheon in South Gyeongsang province.

DAPA described the milestone as an “important turning point in the aircraft production process” and said the first KF-21 is on track to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) by the “second half of 2026 after undergoing RoKAF acceptance tests”.

“Since commencing the mass-production project in July 2024, the KF-21 has gone through the stages of processing small parts, manufacturing important components, and assembling the front, middle, and rear fuselage – and it has now entered the final assembly stage,” DAPA said.

On initiating production of the first KF-21, DAPA said KAI's manufacturing of the aircraft will be supported by a range of automated manufacturing equipment at the company's Sacheon facility.

“The automation process will increase the accuracy of the assembly process, maximise production efficiency, and contribute to shortening the production period,” DAPA said at the time.

KAI was awarded a contract by DAPA in June 2024, worth KRW1.96 trillion (USD1.4 billion), to manufacture an initial batch of 20 KF-21s. The contract runs through August 2027. DAPA said it expects to award KAI a contract for a second batch of 20 KF-21s in 2025.