SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said on Thursday it has signed a contract with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to conduct additional weapons testing for the KF-21 fighter jet.
The contract is valued at 685.9 billion won ($500 million) and is intended to support continued development of the aircraft by enabling flight-test verification of air-to-ground capabilities, KAI said.
The additional weapons testing program will run through December 2028. Under the plan, testing and performance verification will expand the KF-21’s operational envelope from its current focus on air-to-air weapons to include air-to-ground armaments.
KAI said it will also conduct tests of air-to-ground functions for the aircraft’s active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and other core avionics, with the goal of securing broader combat capability by the end of the program.
Based on the test results, KAI said it plans to begin sequentially fielding air-to-ground capabilities from the first half of 2027, earlier than the original target of the end of 2028.
The expanded weapons capability is expected to enhance the KF-21’s competitiveness in the global fighter aircraft market and increase interest from overseas customers, the company said.
KAI is currently producing the first mass-production batch of the KF-21, with deliveries to the South Korean Air Force scheduled to begin sequentially in the second half of 2026.
The company said a number of countries, including those in the Middle East and Southeast Asia that already operate the FA-50 light attack aircraft, have expressed strong interest in the KF-21.
“Successfully carrying out the phased test and evaluation of additional KF-21 armaments will provide an opportunity to demonstrate testing and verification capabilities tailored to future customer requirements,” KAI CEO Cha Jae-byung said.
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