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| In frame - General Lee Yeon-su, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), with the United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Minister of Defense, Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi, after a test flight of KA-21. Image: Defence Security Asia |
Seoul, August 12 - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has significantly deepened its engagement with South Korea’s defense industry, particularly through its growing interest in the KF-21 Boramae, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter jet developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). This burgeoning partnership was highlighted on August 7, 2025, when UAE Defense Undersecretary Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi participated in a high-profile friendship flight at Sacheon Air Base in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The Republic of Korea Air Force reported that the event saw Al Alawi take the rear seat of a KF-21 prototype while South Korea’s Air Force Chief of Staff, General Lee Young-soo, piloted a Korean-made FA-50 light combat aircraft. This flight marked a historic moment, as it was the first instance of a senior UAE defense official directly experiencing the capabilities of South Korea’s most advanced fighter jet, signaling a strengthening of military ties between the two nations.
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The KF-21 Boramae represents South Korea’s most ambitious aerospace project, designed to bridge the gap between fourth-generation fighters like the F-16 and fifth-generation stealth platforms such as the F-35. With a maximum speed of Mach 1.83, a combat radius of approximately 1,000 kilometers, and a payload capacity for a diverse array of precision-guided munitions, the KF-21 is equipped with advanced features, including a domestically produced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, infrared search and track sensors, and an electronic warfare suite. Its stealth-optimized design reduces radar cross-section, making it a versatile platform for both air superiority and strike missions. The jet’s development, which began in 2015, has progressed rapidly, with over 1,000 test flights completed by the end of 2024, including night aerial refueling and live-fire trials with advanced missiles like the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
The UAE’s interest in the KF-21 dates back to 2023, when discussions began about potential participation in the program. This interest intensified in 2025, with significant milestones such as a Letter of Intent signed in April between South Korea’s Air Force Chief of Staff and the UAE Air Force and Air Defence Commander, Major General Rashed Mohammed A. Al Shamsi. This agreement allows UAE personnel to observe KF-21 flight trials, participate in operational testing, and visit South Korean air bases preparing to induct the jet. The UAE’s engagement is further underscored by its strategic shift toward diversifying defense procurement away from traditional Western suppliers. Having faced challenges in acquiring U.S.-made F-35 fighters due to geopolitical constraints, the UAE has turned to alternatives like the French Rafale F4 and now the KF-21, which offers fewer export restrictions and opportunities for technology transfer and local industrial participation.
South Korea and the UAE have cultivated a robust defense partnership, encompassing arms contracts for K9 Thunder howitzers, Chunmoo rocket launchers, and the Cheongung-II air defense system over the past decade. The friendship flight and ongoing cooperation reflect a mutual commitment to expanding this relationship. For the UAE, the KF-21 could complement its existing fleet of F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcons and incoming Rafale F4 aircraft, enhancing its airpower modernization strategy. For South Korea, a potential UAE acquisition would bolster its ambitions to become a major defense exporter, particularly in the Gulf region. The upcoming Dubai Air Show in November 2025, featuring the KF-21 and South Korea’s Black Eagles aerobatic team, is expected to further spotlight this collaboration, potentially paving the way for a transformative defense deal.