South Korea Builds its Own “F-35-Esque” Stealth Fighter Jet – The KF-21

by Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

(Washington DC) South Korea unveiled its 4.5-generation, domestically produced KF-21 fighter jet, a somewhat stealthy-looking, sleek supersonic fighter jet expected to become operational in 2026.

The external configuration bears a striking resemblance to the U.S. F-35 with its blended wing-fuselage and embedded engine inlets, yet there is a distinct and widely recognized difference between the two aircraft. The Korean KF-21 fighter does not have an internal weapons bay like stealthy 5th-generation aircraft, however, it is heavily armed with as many as 10 external hardpoints. This apparent limitation does not mean the Korean fighter can’t one day evolve into a 5th-generation plane, as numerous reports cite developers explaining that an internal weapons bay may indeed be built into the KF-21 in the coming years.

Korea’s Airborne Achievement

The aircraft is heralded as a massive achievement for Korea’s emerging aviation industry, as it incorporates a wide sphere of advanced technologies. The project is part of a collaborative effort between Indonesia and South Korea.

Following the 2021 unveiling of the aircraft, Korean leaders expressed enthusiasm in international reports.

“A new era of independent defense has begun, and it’s a historic milestone in the development of the [South Korean] aviation industry,” President Moon Jae-in said at the time of the KF-21 unveiling. The KF-21 is nicknamed Boramae, or “young hawk trained for hunting.”

With a maximum take-off weight of 55,000 pounds, the Korean jet is armed with a full complement of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons that include the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 along with Harpoons and anti-ship missiles. The aircraft also flies with a full complement of bombs, providing the one or two man crews with a wide range of attack options.