Korea Aerospace KF-21 Boramae
The KAI KF-21 Boramae is South Korea’s indigenous advanced fighter, developed with Indonesia to bridge the gap between fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. It has a stealth-conscious twin-engine shape, modern radar, and an extensive use of domestic aerospace systems, though early versions carry weapons externally. The first prototype flew in 2022 and production aircraft are only beginning to enter service. Its rapid development has made it a flagship project for South Korea’s defence industry.
Did you know?
Boramae, the KF-21's Korean name, means a young hawk trained for falconry, chosen to symbolise South Korea's fledgling indigenous fighter industry taking flight.
Specifications
| Length | 16.9 m (55 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 11.2 m (37 ft) |
| Height | 4.7 m (15 ft) |
| Crew | 1 |
| Range | 1,800 NM (3,334 km) |
| Maximum speed | 1,180 kt (2,185 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 55,000 ft (16,764 m) |
| Take-off distance | 1,200 m (3,937 ft) |
| Engines | 2x General Electric F414-KI |
| Units built | 6 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Korea Aerospace KF-21 Boramae starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Korea Aerospace, the KF-21 Boramae family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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