The military completed an additional contract for the next-generation fighter jet KF-21 on the 26th. The Air Force plans to operationalize 40 KF-21s by 2028.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Aerospace announced on the same day that they had signed contracts related to the initial production of the KF-21 with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). According to the electronic disclosure system, KAI has signed a contract worth a total of 2.39 trillion won for the supply of 20 KF-21s with DAPA, while Hanwha Aerospace has signed an additional supply contract for KF-21 engines worth 623.2 billion won.
Earlier, DAPA approved a plan to deliver a total of 40 initial production KF-21 aircraft to the Air Force by 2028 during the Defense Acquisition Promotion Committee meeting in March last year. Based on this, DAPA has first signed an initial production contract with KAI for 20 KF-21s last June, and on this day, completed the contract for the remaining 20 units.
In addition to supplying 20 KF-21s, KAI will also be responsible for subsequent logistical support. At the time of the initial production contract, the KF-21 was still in the development stage for its air-to-air weapons and avionics functions, so performance verification had not yet been conducted. However, KAI has completed the verification, concluding the contract for the remaining units. A KAI official noted, "This demonstrates that the performance has been proven while establishing a stable production system."
The KF-21 is currently a fighter jet attracting interest from overseas, including the Philippines and Poland. With the credibility of the KF-21 enhanced by the South Korean Air Force's guarantees regarding its armaments and performance, attention is focused on whether additional exports can occur. More than 600 partner companies, including KAI, are participating in the KF-21 development and production projects.
Hanwha Aerospace has agreed to supply over 80 F414 engines for the KF-21 by December 2028, including the contract signed with DAPA on this day. Previously, Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract for the supply of KF-21 engines worth 556.2 billion won last June. With the additional contract for 20 units concluded on this day, the total contract value for Hanwha Aerospace has increased to 1.1794 trillion won.
A Hanwha Aerospace official said, "Based on Korea's only aviation engine technology, we will supply the KF-21 engines without delay and do our best to develop advanced aviation engines for our national defense."
The KF-21 system development project is expected to be completed next year, and the Air Force plans to operationalize it from the second half of next year.