South Korean KF-21

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MIflyer

Captain
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May 30, 2011
Cape Canaveral
A generation 4.5 fighter.

Screenshot 2026-03-18 at 17-14-56 Asia Rising A New Era in Military Aviation - Flight Journal.png
 
The new version with a F-35 like internal missile bay is in the works.


The KF-21 is going to dominate the western-aligned market for non-F-35 fighters, with Poland a strong likely customer (they're already buying Korean MBTs, in the Leopard's backyard).

SAAB had better watch out. KAI expects to produce a total of 120 KF-21 aircraft by 2032, with 40 Block I units scheduled for delivery beginning in September 2026 and an additional 80 Block II units planned later. Since 1998, over nearly thirty years now, all of 300 Gripens have been produced.
 
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A recent article on the progress of flight testing: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/01/south-korea-announces-completion-of-kf-21-flight-test-program/
I dunno much about the aircraft's expected performance ..... am going to see what Wikipedia has to say :)
First production unit arrives. SAAB, Boeing, BAe and Dassault are going to see the market for Western-aligned non-F-35 4.5-5th gen fighters vanish.


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2hRz6b4uTuk
 

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