Facts summary and sources
KAI KF-21 Boramae: speed field: Mach 1.81 (Design target / estimate; not a demonstrated record). First flight: 2022.
This is a secondary compilation. A source-check date applies only to the listed claim, not to the whole page or its translation. A page update is not a source check.
Sources and check records
- KAI company magazine — KAI publishes Mach 1.81 as a performance figure; this source does not establish an observed flight-test maximum at that speed. [Manufacturer-published design specification] · Source checked for this claim: 2026-09-28
- DAPA: KF-21 first flight — KF-21 first flight occurred on 19 July 2022. [Reported flight milestone] · Event date: 2022-07-19 · Source checked for this claim: 2026-09-28
- DAPA: first production KF-21 handover — DAPA reports first production aircraft No. 001 handed over on 22 September 2026; publication is dated 23 September. [Production delivery, not full operational clearance] · Event date: 2026-09-22 · Source checked for this claim: 2026-09-28
✈️ Full Specifications
| Country | ✈️ South Korea |
| First flight | 2022 |
| Length | 16.9 m (55.4 ft) |
| Speed target / estimate (Mach) | 1.81 |
| Speed evidence basis | Design target / estimate; not a demonstrated record |
KAI KF-21 Boramae
South Korea 4.5-generation fighter, the KF-21 Boramae (Fighting Hawk) is one of the newest combat aircraft in the world. It represents Korea ambitious leap into advanced fighter development.
🇰🇷 Korea Ambition
Developed primarily by Korea Aerospace Industries with Indonesian partnership, the KF-21 first flew in July 2022. Initial configurations carry weapons externally. Proposed future internal-carriage configurations are development concepts, not capabilities established by the initial aircraft.
📋 Specifications
- Max Speed: Mach 1.81 (manufacturer-published design specification, not a documented test maximum)
- Range: 2,900 km
- Engines: 2x General Electric F414-GE-400K
- First Flight: 2022
- Planned: 120+ for ROKAF
- Country: South Korea
🎬 Video
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the KF-21?
A KAI company magazine publishes Mach 1.81 as a performance figure. This page treats it as a manufacturer design specification, not proof of a flight reaching that exact speed. The old 1,920/1,930 km/h figures have been removed: a Mach value cannot be assigned one universal conversion without flight conditions.
Is the KF-21 a 5th-generation fighter?
The initial configuration is commonly described as 4.5-generation and carries weapons externally. A future internal-bay concept does not establish an already delivered fifth-generation configuration.
How many KF-21s have been built?
Prototype counts and production deliveries are separate. DAPA’s 23 September 2026 announcement reports handover of the first production aircraft, No. 001, on 22 September 2026; it is not a total fleet count.
When will the KF-21 enter service?
The first flight occurred on 19 July 2022. DAPA reports the first production handover on 22 September 2026. Delivery, operational readiness and full weapon clearance are distinct milestones.