"KF-21 will be a springboard to becoming a top-four defense power" [Mass production of KF-21 begins]

Lee Jae-myung said on the 25th, "With the mass production of the KAI KF-21 Boramae, we have finally come to possess a weapon that safeguards peace in our skies, following our land and sea, through our own technology and determination." He added, "We have now demonstrated the full might of our self-reliant defense."
Lee attended the rollout ceremony for the mass production of the "Korean fighter" KAI KF-21 Boramae at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, and stressed in his congratulatory remarks, "As president, I share this historic moment with 52 million citizens with boundless pride and heartfelt congratulations." He went on, "Our fighter jet that will defend our skies with our own strength has finally completed preparations for combat deployment," adding, "The KF-21, which we have independently developed, has already drawn intense interest from countries around the world even before the first unit rolled out, thanks to its outstanding performance, low maintenance costs, and highly expandable airframe platform. The government will use the success of the KF-21 as a solid springboard for the Republic of Korea (ROK) to rise into the ranks of the world’s top four defense industry powers."
Lee particularly noted, "This great moment we face did not come by itself. Since President Kim Dae-jung declared a domestic fighter development project in 2001, our researchers, engineers, and officials from the government and the military have never given up despite countless obstacles. In the end, they turned the impossible into reality." He reflected, "Over 25 long years, the sweat and effort of countless people have brought about this very moment." He continued, "The ROK, which has proven world-class defense technology and production capacity through systems such as the K9 Thunder and the Cheongung medium-range surface-to-air missile system (KM-SAM), has now acquired the profile of a true defense and aerospace powerhouse that independently designs and produces even fighter jets. We will not rest here," adding, "We will swiftly embark on the development of advanced aircraft engines, materials, and components, and we will spare no investment and support so that our defense industry can continue to grow."
After the ceremony, Lee Jae-myung also toured the production site of the first mass-production KAI KF-21 Boramae.
The first mass-production KAI KF-21 Boramae rolled out that day will undergo performance verification by the manufacturer and the ROK Air Force before being deployed for combat operations with the ROK Air Force in September. A total of 40 initial KAI KF-21 Boramae aircraft are scheduled to be mass-produced by 2028. In addition, 80 units of a variant with enhanced air-to-ground capabilities are to be produced between 2029 and 2032. The military aims to deploy a total of 120 KAI KF-21 Boramae fighters by 2032, fully replacing its McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and Northrop F-5 fleets.
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun and Sung Seok-woo Reporter