Seoul, February 2 - The KF-21 Boramae, South Korea's advanced indigenous fighter jet developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), has reached a significant milestone with its domestically produced AESA radar entering the final phase of testing and evaluation. Led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in collaboration with Hanwha Systems, this critical sensor system represents a major step forward in enhancing the Republic of Korea Air Force's air combat capabilities. The transition to comprehensive multimode validation, announced following a key meeting in late January 2026, underscores South Korea's commitment to achieving technological sovereignty in next-generation fighter avionics. This phase builds on earlier successes, including initial installations and ground tests on KF-21 prototypes, paving the way for full operational integration.
The KF-21 AESA radar, featuring approximately 1,000 gallium nitride-based transmit/receive modules, offers superior detection and tracking performance compared to traditional mechanically scanned arrays. It enables simultaneous multi-target engagement, high-resolution synthetic aperture mapping for ground and sea targets, and robust resistance to electronic countermeasures. Designed as a multi-function system, the radar supports air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea modes, allowing the KF-21 to detect airborne threats at ranges estimated between 150 and 200 kilometers while tracking multiple targets concurrently. This capability significantly boosts the fighter's situational awareness and lethality in contested environments, positioning it as a formidable 4.5-generation platform with potential for future upgrades toward fifth-generation standards.
The ongoing final testing and evaluation, scheduled to continue through December 2028, involves rigorous assessments across diverse operational scenarios to verify reliability, accuracy, and integration with the KF-21's overall avionics suite. These evaluations include simulated combat conditions to confirm the radar's performance in detecting and tracking targets in the air, on land, and at sea. Successful completion will enable the radar to support advanced missions such as precision strikes and networked warfare, aligning with South Korea's broader defense strategy to modernize its air force amid regional security challenges.
This development marks a triumph for South Korea's defense industry, reducing reliance on foreign technology and strengthening the nation's position in global aerospace markets. As the KF-21 Boramae progresses toward serial production and service entry, the validated AESA radar will serve as a cornerstone of its combat effectiveness, ensuring the Republic of Korea Air Force gains a cutting-edge asset capable of meeting evolving threats for decades to come.