Seoul has announced plans to build up to 120 KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter jets by the early 2030s, with the first 20 aircraft expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2027.
The KF-21 is set to replace South Korea’s legacy U.S.-sourced F-4 Phantom and F-5 Tiger aircraft.
The jet is 17 meters (57 feet) long, has an 11-meter (36-foot) wingspan, and can hold 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds) of fuel.
Powered by two Hanwha/GE F414 engines producing a combined 110,000 horsepower, the aircraft boasts a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,778 kilometers), a service ceiling of 16,700 meters (54,790 feet), and can reach speeds up to Mach 1.8 (2,223 km/h or 1,381 mph).
