By Kang Gahui

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on May 7 said the homegrown fighter jet KF-21 has obtained certification as "combat suitable," passing the final hurdle in system development.

This completed all performance verification through follow-up test evaluations conducted over three years since the aircraft was deemed "provisionally combat suitable" in May 2023.

The KF-21 is judged to have met the Republic of Korea Air Force's required operational capabilities and secured flight performance and stability at the level of performing missions in battlefield environments.

System development for the fighter jet began in December 2015. Ground and flight tests followed starting with the initial test evaluation in May 2021.

Flight performance and stability like aerial refueling and weapon firing capacities were confirmed through an estimated 1,600 flight tests and some 13,000 flight condition evaluations.

"This combat suitability certification was possible through close cooperation among the private, public and military sectors including the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force, Korea Aerospace Industries and the Agency for Defense Development," said Noh Jiman, director general of DAPA's KF-21 Program Group. "This symbolic result demonstrates the Republic of Korea's fully autonomous capacity to develop fighter jets."

Slated to complete system development next month, the KF-21 will see its first production unit delivered to the Air Force in the second half of the year.

kgh89@korea.kr