KF-21 Boramae completes system development after a decade; DAPA ceremony set for July 29

South Korea's KF-21 Boramae supersonic fighter has formally completed its system development phase, closing out roughly ten years of prototype manufacturing and flight testing that began in 2015. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration scheduled a "KF-21/IF-X System Development Completion Ceremony" for July 29 at Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, with Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Air Force officials attending alongside Indonesian defense and embassy representatives from the co-development partner. The milestone moves the program into full-rate production and export marketing: the ROK Air Force plans to induct roughly 120 aircraft by 2032, with about 10 this year, 30 by 2028, 40 by 2030, and 40 by 2032. Block-II upgrades covering engine, avionics, and weapons integration are targeted for completion by 2028. The first mass-production aircraft rolled out on March 25, 2026, and Air Force deliveries of air-to-air-capable Block-I jets begin in the second half of 2026.