South Korea and Indonesia’s KF-21 fighter jet is ready. But will it sell?

he first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jet is unveiled during a ceremony at the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon on March 25.

Photo: Yonhap/EPA South Korea has spent a decade and billions of dollars trying to build a world-class fighter jet.

Now that the finish line is drawing near, it’s nearly time to find out who will buy one.

The first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae, developed jointly with Indonesia since 2015, was unveiled by Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon on March 25.

Analysts say the aircraft could pave the way for South Korea, already one of the world’s top 10 arms exporters, to grab an even bigger slice of the global market. “The export of the KF-21, likely within a year of its domestic deployment, would mark a significant leap forward for South Korea’s defence industry in the global high-end weapons market,” said Professor Jang Won-joon of Jeonbuk National University’s Advanced Defence Industry Studies Department.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (left) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shake hands in Seoul on Wednesday.

Photo: Yonhap/AP At a summit in Seoul on Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed to expand defence industry cooperation and confirmed that joint development of the KF-21 was on track to conclude in June.

In a joint statement, the two leaders committed to continued collaboration on the jet’s production and pledged joint development of trainer aircraft, anti-tank guided missile systems and ammunition.

Lee described the KF-21 as a “model example” of international defence cooperation in comments to Indonesian newspaper Kompas, calling for extending the partnership into naval vessels and air defence systems.

Prabowo, meanwhile, framed the alliance in terms of mutual advantage. “Korea possesses outstanding industrial and technological capabilities, while Indonesia has abundant resources and a large market,” he said.

Seoul had hoped to finalise a formal export agreement with Indonesia during Wednesday’s summit, but financial pressures tied to global instability and inflation reportedly delayed a deal.

The KF-21 is a “4.5-generation” supersonic fighter equipped with advanced radar technology, capable of reaching Mach 1.8 with a maximum range of 2,900km (1,800 miles).

Its development places South Korea in an elite tier of nations capable of producing advanced supersonic combat aircraft indigenously, alongside the likes of the United States, China, Ru

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