The KF-21 Boramae (“Hawk” in Korean) is a twin-engine, supersonic, multi-role military fighter aircraft developed and manufactured jointly by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) of South Korea and Indonesian Aerospace of Indonesia. The advanced fourth-generation jet is the result of an initiative to develop a single platform to replace a host of previously fielded aircraft in the South Korean military. The Boramae can perform mission sets including air superiority, strike, close air support, electronic warfare, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) data collections. The KF-21 took its maiden flight on July 19, 2022.
The aircraft comprises a number of cutting-edge features, including advanced avionics that maximize the aircraft’s maneuverability, an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, an IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system, and a large touchscreen multi-function primary cockpit display. The aircraft boasts ten hardpoints for a variety of weapon systems and is tailored for delivery of precision guided munitions.
The jet has a form optimized for low radar cross section and overall low observability. It features a trapezoidal main wing and an empennage consisting of two outwardly canted vertical stabilizers and all-moving tailplanes. It measures 55 feet, 5 inches in length and has a wingspan of 36 feet, 8 inches. It is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400K afterburning turbofan engines that each deliver up to 13,000 pounds of thrust in military power and up to 22,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner. It has a maximum range of 1,800 miles and a maximum speed of 1,400 miles per hour.
