▲ President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the rollout of the first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jets at the Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in Sacheon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on March 25, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
▲ The first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jet is unveiled during a ceremony marking its rollout at the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, southeastern South Korea, on March 25, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
▲ President Lee Jae Myung (C) salutes the national flag during a ceremony marking the rollout of the first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jets at the Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in Sacheon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on March 25, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
▲ The Air Force's Black Eagles acrobatic flight team performs as the first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jet is unveiled during a ceremony marking its rollout at the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, southeastern South Korea, on March 25, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Lee-fighter jets

(LEAD) Lee hails homegrown KF-21 fighter jets as leap forward into world's top 4 defense powerhouse

(ATTN: ADDS comments in last 4 paras, photos)

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday touted the country's first mass-produced homegrown KF-21 fighter jets as a symbol that embodies "aspirations for self-reliant defense," vowing to make South Korea one of the world's top four defense powers.

Speaking at a ceremony for the first delivery of the fighter jets, which came after years of development and prototype testing, Lee also pledged to invest more in high-end aircraft technologies.

"South Korea has finally secured weapons to protect peace with its own technology not only on land and sea but also in the air," Lee said during the ceremony, held at the Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in Sacheon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

South Korea launched the KF-21 development program in 2015 to acquire a homegrown supersonic fighter to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of U.S.-made F-4 and F-5 jets.

"The KF-21 fighter jets, designed with our own technology and built with our own hands, are finally being rolled out," he added. "This fighter jet embodies the fervent aspirations for self-reliant defense that we have dreamed of for more than half a century."

The government will build on the success of the KF-21 jets to advance into the world's top four defense powers, he said.

Lee also hailed the country's K9 self-propelled howitzers and Cheongung surface-to-air missiles as having demonstrated the world-class defense capabilities.

"The success of the KF-21 jet does not simply mean strengthening defense capabilities but signifies that South Korea has secured new momentum to compete with the world's leading defense powers," Lee said.

"Having demonstrated its world-class defense technology and production capabilities through the K9 self-propelled howitzers and Cheongung surface-to-air missiles, South Korea has now become a true powerhouse in the defense and aerospace industries that is capable of designing and producing fighter jets on its own," he added.

Lee vowed to share South Korea's weapons systems and experiences in weapons development with partner countries to further strengthen the competitiveness of the country's defense industry.

Seoul currently plans to sign a deal to export 16 KF-21 fighter jets to Indonesia, in what would mark the country's first overseas sale of indigenous fighter jets.

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