South Korea is engaged on the introduction of an air-to-ground functionality for the KF-21 Boramae, in addition to a brand new air-to-air missile and a brand new domestically-developed engine.
South Korea’s Protection Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) launched on Dec. 23, 2025, a video of air-to-ground weapons’ drop trials with the indigenous KF-21 Boramae. The movies reveals a number of weapons, together with take a look at articles of the GBU-12 Laser-Guided Bomb (LGB), the GBU-56 Laser Joint Direct Assault Munition (LJDAM) and the Korean Air-Launched Cruise Missile (KALCM) at the moment in improvement.
The weapons, bearing varied take a look at markings, are launched from the port (left-side) wing of a specifically instrumented KF-21 Boramae within the managed setting of a testing facility. The weapons then fall a short-distance of some centimeters onto a sand pit – from which additionally the title of “pit drop assessments” – to test for a clear separation.
This improvement comes as Yonhap, Chosun and The Korea Instances quoted DAPA officers on Dec. 23, 2025, who introduced advancing the plan to offer the KF-21 air-to-ground assault functionality one-and-a-half yr sooner than deliberate, beginning in 2027. Authorities had beforehand allotted 700 billion gained (US $472 million) to be spent by means of December 2028 to begin testing and combine “10 several types of air-to-ground” munitions on the KF-21.
FlightGlobal additionally reported on Dec. 24, 2025, that Seoul has dedicated 3.4 trillion gained ($3.4 billion) to develop an indigenous jet engine to energy the KF-21 Block 3 variant, with the programme working from 2027 to 2040.
Beforehand, on Dec. 2, 2025, Korean studies stated the DAPA introduced one other 435.5 billion gained ($296 million) program to develop short-range AAMs for the KF-21 by 2032, in a “bid to diversify the weapons techniques for its fighter jets and enhance arms exports.” Native protection corporations LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace, are anticipated to take part within the mission.
Newest drop assessments
Because the accompanying info within the video instructed, these assessments won’t be current, with the clips being launched solely now. Shut-up cameras seize in slow-motion the discharge mechanism and holds that push down the munitions, in addition to the ensuing vibration on the wing.
A machine translation of the textual content within the DAPA video referred to a “assembly” on Dec. 23 to “launch the KF-21 extra weapons testing mission,” wanted to substantiate its “multirole fighter plane” mission set and ordnance capabilities. A attainable early operational fielding would additionally assist the Boramae’s export push internationally.
The DAPA assertion stated:
“The extra weapons testing mission goals to confirm the KF-21’s numerous weapons operational capabilities and, by means of this, safe its full efficiency as a multi-role fighter plane. The Protection Acquisition Program Administration, the Air Drive, KAI, and the Company for Protection Improvement (ADD) will collaborate to conduct flight assessments in accordance with the take a look at plan.
The preliminary air-to-ground functionality can be achieved roughly 18 months sooner than the unique mission plan, and can be utilized to mass-produced KF-21 plane beginning in 2027. At present, design, verification, and floor testing for air-to-ground weapons flight testing have been accomplished.
The KF-21 extra weapons testing mission can be an necessary milestone in Korea’s skill to independently develop multi-role fighter plane. Moreover, it’s anticipated to have a constructive impression on the technological self-reliance of the home aerospace trade and its entry into the worldwide market.”
KF-21 Boramae berhasil melaksanakan aerial refueling flight. pic.twitter.com/PiWxobt26K
— robe_1807 (@Robe1807) March 19, 2024
The GBU-12 and GBU-56 are among the many weapons that reportedly can be utilized by the KF-21 and are a part of the Republic of Korea Air Drive’s (RoKAF) stock. The service may also function different weapons developed domestically, such because the KALCM.
The KALCM Cheonryong (Sky Dragon) has been reported to be in improvement for a number of years now, overseen by the ADD and with industrial participation from LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace. Official renditions and full-sized mock-ups at exhibition stalls in 2023 have proven it to be a extremely faceted weapon optimized for stealth and low-observability.
Possessing each land and maritime strike functionality, the weapon has been depicted with a variety of 800 km, and is supposed to initially complement, and ultimately substitute, Western techniques just like the Taurus KEPD 350 ALCM, utilized by the RoKAF’s F-15K Slam Eagles.
The @fapperu (🇵🇪) is contemplating becoming a member of South Korea’s (🇰🇷) fifth era KAI KF-21 Boramae program.
The South Koreans have been courting overseas buyers for the KF-21, and included #Peru as a possible operator within the rollout ceremony for the plane. pic.twitter.com/tB97dHsyYR
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) July 2, 2024
Engine improvement
As for the home engine improvement push, the DAPA’s Superior Aviation Engine Improvement Undertaking goals to ship an influence plant that may produce 16,000 kilos of dry thrust and 24,000 kilos of thrust with afterburners. This system includes prototype manufacturing, floor testing, certification and aircraft-mounted assessments to be built-in with the KF-21 Block III by 2040.
The Block IIIs is envisaged to be a pure stealth fighter with radar-absorbent materials, paint and coatings, inner weapons bays, sensor fusion and authorized to function with Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA).
The KF-21 Block I at the moment flies with the Basic Electrical F414, which Hanwha Aerospace manufactures regionally below license. South Korea hopes the brand new engine would provide a 15% discount in gasoline consumption, whereas the domestically developed parts and design would cut back overseas dependence and eradicate export restrictions arising from the presence of U.S. expertise.
Güney Kore, KF-21 Blok 3 İçin Yerli Motor Geliştirecek
Güney Kore, 106,75 kN itki gücüne sahip yerli savaş uçağı motoru geliştirmek için 3,4 milyar dolar bütçe ayırdı. Motorun, 2040 yılına kadar KF-21 Blok 3 varyantında kullanılması planlanıyor.
KF-21 Blok 3, gerçek 5.… pic.twitter.com/P8SqVqgAiE
— DefenseNews (@SavunmaHaber) December 27, 2025
KAI KF-21 Boramae weapons trials to date
The KF-21 has been examined with not less than two Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs). These embrace the MBDA Meteor Past Visible-Vary (BVR) AAM and the German IRIS-T short-range AAM (referred to with its various AIM-2000 designation by the South Koreans).
A Mar. 28, 2023, video from Korean Air confirmed prototype ‘002’ dropping a Meteor, in what was described as a captive-carry and “armament separation take a look at (with out launch)” trial.
Then, on Apr. 6, 2023, plane 002 fired the IRIS-T from its left wing’s outer weapons station, whereas additionally carrying not less than two Meteors on its 4 recessed underbelly ordnance stations. This was adopted by South Korea’s Protection Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) releasing on Might 24, 2023, a video of a “mounting demonstration” of the Meteor and the IRIS-T/AIM-2000 short-range AAMs on ‘004’.
Then, on Dec. 29, 2023, KED World reported that the DAPA pledged 591.9 billion gained ($460 million) for creating short-range AAMs with “homegrown expertise.” The report quoted a press release from DAPA, which talked about “The mission will enhance our self-defense capabilities by means of home improvement of cutting-edge weapon techniques and also will enhance the export competitiveness of guided missiles linked to the KF-21.”
