r/Defense_Tech_KR

KF-21 Boramae has received final combat suitability approval after completing years of performance verification.

Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Thursday that the KF-21 program had obtained a “combat suitable” decision. This final gateway in the development process confirms the aircraft can conduct missions in actual combat.

This decision came about three years after the fighter received a provisional combat suitability assessment in May 2023, and following additional testing and evaluations to verify the full performance of the KF-21 Block-I configuration.

연합뉴스

In 2008, Saab tried to co-develop stealth jet with South Korea via KF-X program. Although the South Korean government turned it down, Saab's suggestion is interesting, showing early broadband stealth, IWB, controlling UAVs/UCAVs, etc. (Also, as weapon bays were optimized for air superiority role, I guess the co-developed jet would be smaller than the current KF-21)

But since Saab already begun the Gripen NG program at that time, I am not sure whether Saab could develop Gripen NG and co-develop KF-X at the same time?