KF-21 Officially Receives Final Certification for Flight Safety
All Airworthiness Certification Criteria Met
The domestically developed fighter jet KF-21 has officially received final certification for its flight safety, following an airworthiness review (evaluation of its ability to operate safely).
On the 13th, the domestically produced supersonic fighter jet KF-21 production aircraft No. 2 and the multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle demonstrator were unveiled at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam. 2026.05.13. Photo by the Joint Press Corps
View original imageOn June 16, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it convened the Airworthiness Certification Review Board at the Government Complex in Gwacheon the previous day to deliberate on the airworthiness review results for the Korea Fighter (KF-21) system development project. The board confirmed that all airworthiness certification criteria had been met. The KF-21 fulfilled all 745 inspection items across 14 categories, including aircraft structure, weapons integration, and electronic systems, as required by the airworthiness certification standards. This concluded the five-year airworthiness review process for the KF-21 system development project, which began in April 2021.
As a result, the KF-21 has obtained "Type Certification," its first such certification, according to DAPA. Type certification is a system in which the government comprehensively verifies that the design of a newly developed aircraft meets airworthiness certification standards.
DAPA explained, "While the 'combat suitability' rating obtained in May verified operational performance, such as mission execution capability and weapons operation, this type certification confirms whether the safety of both the pilot and the aircraft can be ensured even under extreme conditions."
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Kim Ildong, Deputy Director of DAPA and chair of the Airworthiness Certification Review Board, stated that this result "will be a critical factor in building trust with overseas buyers during future export processes," adding, "We expect it will greatly contribute to expanding exports of Korean defense products, based on government-certified flight safety."
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