'Cheap' F-22: South Korea's KF-21 Boramae Fighter Has Edge over Rafale and Eurofighter

Summary and Key Points: South Korea has officially begun production of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jets, following a recent agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for twenty units.

-Development, which started less than a decade ago, has led to a design that is now 80% complete. Six prototypes have ensured the KF-21 meets operational standards.

-Initial deliveries to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) are expected by the end of 2026, with full-rate production to follow. Utilizing advanced automated production equipment, South Korea aims to boost efficiency and accuracy.

-The KF-21, noted for its similarities to the F-22 Raptor, offers a low-cost alternative to the F-35, enhancing South Korea's defense capabilities.

Here Comes the KF-21 Fighter from South Korea 

Only two weeks after the South Korean government signed a deal with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for twenty KF-21 Boramae fighters, production has begun. Development of the domestically designed fighter began less than a decade ago, and the fighter's design is now reported to be around 80% complete.

Six prototypes have been constructed and used to ensure that the KF-21 will meet operational standards.

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on Wednesday it began the initial manufacturing process, and it will utilize automated production equipment to speed the efforts. The initial batch of the KF-21s will begin to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) by the end of 2026, which will allow the KAI to refine the design before the aircraft moves to full-rate production (FRP).

"The automation process will increase the accuracy of the assembly process, maximise production efficiency, and contribute to shortening the production period," DAPA said in a statement, as reported by Janes. The agency added that it expects to receive a second contract next year to produce an additional twenty KF-21s.

The new fighters will replace the RoKAF's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighters. The long-term goal for Seoul is to have 120 of the fighters in service by 2032.  However, in March, DAPA had cut the order in half from a planned forty to just twenty to ensure that the concerns over its capabilities were addressed accordingly.

The Domestic South Korean Fighter

According to DefenseNews, the KF-21 Boramae is notable for being indigenously designed in South Korea, while the DAPA further developed a supply chain that consists of more than 600 domestic companies to support its production.

That has included the building of new state-of-the-art facilities, which could allow KAI to achieve a localization rate of 65%, a number that could further increase with subsequent batches of KF-21s.

Not Exactly an F-22 Clone

The KF-21 isn't officially designated a stealth fighter – in part due to the fact that its external stores will significantly compromise low observability – yet, its overall radar-reflective design offers a degree of delayed detection against enemy surface-to-air radar arrays.

The Boramae has been further noted for bearing a passing resemblance to the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor, and the similarities are likely by design. Lockheed Martin – maker of the Raptor – partnered with KAI to provide technical support during the development of the KF-21.

As previously reported by Alex Hollings for The National Interest, "The KF-21 is a unique aircraft that incorporates a variety of 5th-generation (or stealth) design elements while still carrying munitions externally like older 4th-generation platforms."

F-35 Alternative

The South Korean fighter has also been touted as a low-cost alternative to the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II. While not a fifth-generation aircraft, it could be a capable 4.5-generation multirole fighter. The KF-21's stealth capabilities are expected to be superior to the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon, while not matching the F-35.

"The KF-21, a symbol of true self-defense, will contribute to improving the power of the national air force and further developing the advanced aerospace industry," said KAI CEO Kang Goo-young in a statement issued last month to the Korea Economic Daily to mark the 74th anniversary of the Korean War, which broke out on June 25, 1950.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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