South Korea has commenced the final assembly of its first mass-produced KF-21 fighter aircraft, according to an announcement from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on May 20.
The process, taking place at Korea Aerospace Industries' (KAI) production facility in Sacheon, involves completing the airframe structure and integrating the engine and electronic systems. The aircraft will then proceed to ground evaluations and flight testing.
DAPA marked the occasion with a ceremony at the facility, describing the event as a key stage in the production timeline. The agency confirmed that the first KF-21 unit is expected to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) in the second half of 2026, pending successful completion of acceptance trials.
The current phase follows a series of steps that began with the mass production program’s launch in July 2024. These included manufacturing small parts, assembling major fuselage sections, and producing critical components. The final assembly phase now brings together the front, middle, and rear fuselage.
The manufacturing process at KAI’s Sacheon plant is supported by automated systems, which DAPA said are intended to enhance assembly accuracy, improve production efficiency, and reduce manufacturing time.
KAI received a KRW1.96 trillion (approximately USD1.4 billion) contract from DAPA in June 2024 to produce an initial batch of 20 KF-21 units, with production scheduled through August 2027. DAPA also indicated plans to issue a follow-on contract for an additional 20 aircraft in 2025.
