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South Korea joins the ‘big boys’ with rollout of KF-21

13th April 2021 - 06:54 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Christchurch

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The first KF-21 Boramae prototype is rolled out. (DAPA)

South Korea's project to create an affordable but capable modern fighter still appears to be on track, as the first prototype is rolled out.

Six years after launching the programme, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) rolled out a prototype of its KF-21 Boramae fighter on 9 April. KF-21 is the new name for what was previously referred to as the KF-X, and Boramae refers to a falconer-trained hawk that is less than a year old.

Befitting the occasion, as South Korea entered the select ranks of those nations able to design a modern supersonic fighter, President Moon Jae officiated at the ceremony at KAI’s headquarters in Sacheon.

‘We’ve got our own supersonic fighter jet finally. We have opened a new era of self-defence and

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