South Korea has officially delivered its first serial-production KF-21 Boramae fighter jet to the Republic of Korea Air Force, marking a major turning point for the country's homegrown fighter program as it shifts from years of testing into full operational service. The aircraft, tail number 001, took off from Korea Aerospace Industries' plant in Sacheon on September 22 and flew roughly 165 kilometers to its new home at Yecheon Air Base, escorted by an FA-50, TA-50 and T-50 in a formation symbolizing the country's aviation evolution. Major Han Jae-seok signed the acceptance documents and piloted the jet on its delivery flight, handing the aircraft over to the newly reactivated 156th Fighter Squadron, a unit that once flew F-4E Phantoms before being disbanded in 2012. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Son Sug-rag called the moment a transfer of responsibility, saying the program has now moved from the hands of its developers into those of the service members who will fly and maintain it.

The delivery comes roughly four years after the KF-21's first prototype flight in July 2022, and caps a program that traces back to 2001, when it was first proposed as South Korea's answer to reducing reliance on foreign-built fighters. Korea Aerospace Industries plans to deliver 40 Block I jets focused on air-to-air combat by 2028, followed by 80 more advanced Block II aircraft equipped for long-range strike missions by 2032, bringing the total planned fleet to around 120 KF-21s. The new fighter is set to eventually replace South Korea's aging F-4 and F-5 fleets, with the Air Force targeting initial operational capability in 2027 as pilots and maintenance crews at Yecheon work to build up flying hours and sustainment capability. The milestone positions South Korea among a small group of nations building supersonic fighters domestically, with the KF-21 also expected to be offered for export in the years ahead.