India’s first stealth fighter, the AMCA, is still in the design phase and won’t arrive until 2065, at best. Meanwhile, China is moving ahead with advanced platforms like the J-35, J-20, J-36, and J-50. Pakistan is also purchasing Turkish Kaan fighter jets.
India’s fifth-generation fighter jet will be outdated in 2065, like the Tezas fighter jet before it even flies. Indian Air Force cannot hide the recent embarrassment during the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir, losing French-made advanced Rafale fighter jets to Pakistani AMRAAM.
Report from New Delhi suggests that South Korea’s domestically developed KF-21 BORAMAE is emerging as a potential candidate for India’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft program, as New Delhi looks to address ongoing gaps in its combat air fleet.
According to Indian defence media reports published on August 1, the KF-21 is being evaluated amid growing interest from the Indian Air Force in acquiring both 4.5 and fifth-generation fighters. The South Korean jet is viewed as a cost-competitive platform with future growth potential and compatibility with India’s domestic industrial policy.
The Indian Air Force currently faces a shortage in operational squadrons as older aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, and Jaguar are being phased out. While India has long relied on a mix of Russian and French-origin platforms, underperforming Su-30MKI and delays in indigenous Tezas fighter programs have prompted broader consideration of new-generation foreign systems.
Developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the KF-21 is a twin-engine, 4.5-generation multirole fighter equipped with advanced avionics, including an AESA radar, infrared search and track, electronic warfare systems, and modern weapons integration. Two General Electric F414-400K engines power the aircraft and offer a top speed of mach 1.8, a combat radius of approximately 1,500 nautical miles, and a maximum payload of up to 7,700 kg.
South Korea began developing the KF-21 in 2011 to replace its ageing F-4 and F-5 fleets. Although initially intended as a 5th-generation stealth aircraft, the program was adjusted to field a 4.5-generation configuration first, due to operational urgency. The aircraft is now in the flight testing phase, and the first deliveries to the Republic of Korea Air Force are expected in 2026.
The next block 3 of the KF 21 fighter jet will be equipped with an internal weapons bay and extended fuel capacity for long-range missions, and compatibility with twin-engine naval variants may offer strategic appeal.
One of the key advantages highlighted in the Indian press is engine commonality. The KF-21 uses the same F414 engine type selected for India’s Tezas Mk 2 and AMCA programs. If India proceeds with large-scale production of the F414 under license, this could simplify logistics, maintenance, and operational integration for the KF-21.
Since Russia’s defence industries collapsed and are under severe international sanctions, India seeks technological assistance from South Korea to develop a local engine and AESA radars.
As of mid-2025, the estimated unit price of the KF-21 ranges from $87 million to $110 million, including engines, placing it below competitors such as the Rafale, Su-57 and F-35.
In July, Bloomberg reported that India had informed the U.S. and Russia that it was not pursuing the acquisition of the F-35 and Su-57.
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