South Korea Unveils KF-21 Fighter Jet: What This Means for Defense Industry in 2026

Translation result

President Lee Jae-myung attended the rollout ceremony for the first production KF-21 at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province on March 25 and offered encouragement to project personnel.

Since taking office, Lee has set “joining the world’s top four defense powers” as a national goal and pushed industrial growth and arms exports. Observers said his personal attendance signaled strong backing for that agenda.

500 people attended the event, including officials from the Blue House, government and military, KF-21 test pilots, defense industry employees, Air Force cadets and envoys from 14 countries. President Lee arrived with Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek, Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik and Air Force Chief of Staff Son Seok-rak, and he shook hands with attendees, including foreign military attachés.

After the national ceremony and a progress briefing from DAPA Administrator Lee Yong-cheol, large displays parted and the first production aircraft rolled onto the runway. The president greeted it with a broad smile and sustained applause, then walked down to the runway and received salutes from Lt. Col. Jeon Seung-hyun and Lt. Col. Jung Da-jeong, who had flown the aircraft.

Lt. Col. Jeon was the KF-21’s initial test pilot and led the flight test squadron. Lt. Col. Jung is the first female KF-21 pilot.

The president smiled, shook hands with both pilots, offered words of encouragement and patted their shoulders.

After his remarks, the Air Force demonstration team, the Black Eagles, performed a celebratory flyover. During the display, the president listened to briefings from Minister Ahn and Chief Son, nodding and showing interest. After the rollout ceremony, he visited KAI’s final assembly hall for fixed-wing aircraft to review production status and to thank workers.

The fixed-wing assembly hall, the size of three soccer fields, produces the KF-21, FA-50 and T-50 and has an annual production capacity of 50 or more aircraft. Officials said the rolled-out first production KF-21 will complete performance verification and is expected to enter operational service with the Air Force in September.