Aviation News – South Korea is set to retire its aging F-5 fighter jets by the end of 2027, marking a major step in the country’s transition toward the domestically developed KF-21 Boramae fighter aircraft. The move signals a significant modernization of Seoul’s air combat capabilities and a growing push for defense self-reliance.
The planned retirement will phase out one of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s longest-serving aircraft platforms. The F-5, originally introduced in the 1960s and operated by South Korea for decades, has been a core element of national air defense. Its replacement, the KF-21, was selected as part of a long-term indigenous fighter development program launched to reduce reliance on foreign military platforms and strengthen domestic aerospace manufacturing.
The twin-engine KF-21 Boramae is designed as a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, combining advanced avionics, enhanced stealth characteristics, and modern weapons integration. Once operational, the aircraft is expected to improve South Korea’s air superiority, surveillance, and rapid-response capabilities while lowering long-term maintenance challenges linked to older aircraft such as the F-5.
