Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) officially proposed the Korean next-generation fighter KF-21 to the Peruvian government, it was reported on the 15th. Attention is focused on whether the Korean defense industry will achieve success in the Peruvian government's project to replace Russian-made fighter jets.
According to the defense industry, the Peruvian Air Force has begun a comprehensive evaluation of several high-performance fighters to replace the Russian-made fighter jets MIG-29 and SU-25 it has been using. The MIG-29s were introduced in the late 1990s. After over 30 years, the current maintenance and support are inadequate, and limitations on performance upgrades have been pointed out, negatively impacting the operational readiness of the Peruvian Air Force.
In this project, KAI formally proposed the KF-21. In July of last year, KAI laid the groundwork by signing an agreement to jointly produce parts for the Korean light combat aircraft FA-50 with local Peruvian companies. At the defense industry exhibition held in April, KAI participated and promoted the KF-21 along with the FA-50 and helicopters. A KAI representative noted, "No decisions have been made yet as it is still in the early stages."
Foreign media are speculating about KAI's selection possibility. The Peruvian Air Force's next-generation fighter project also includes France's Dassault Rafale, the U.S. F-16, and Sweden's Saab Gripen. The defense-focused media Army Recognition commented, "This platform is known for its advanced systems and combat performance, but the high introduction expense could become a burden on the Peruvian budget."
It added, "Peru's geopolitical situation complicates the choice of existing Russian aircraft, and (the KF-21) is becoming a more attractive option in both strategic and logistical aspects compared to Western and allied systems."
Army Recognition also highlighted the advanced equipment of the KF-21. It noted that the aircraft is equipped with the latest technology, including Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, advanced mission systems, and digital flight control devices, providing the Peruvian Air Force with flexible and modern solutions.