The Republic of Korea and the UAE showed that their defence connections were getting stronger by having key officials fly together in FA-50 and KF-21 planes.
According to information published by the Republic of Korea Air Force on August 7, 2025, South Korea’s Air Force Chief of Staff, General Lee Young-soo, and the United Arab Emirates Defense Undersecretary, Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi, conducted a high-profile friendship flight from Sacheon Air Base in South Gyeongsang Province. General Lee piloted a Korean-made FA-50 light combat aircraft while Al Alawi took the rear seat of a KF-21 Boramae prototype, marking the first time a UAE defense leader has directly experienced South Korea’s most advanced fighter aircraft.
This symbolic flight reflects Abu Dhabi’s sustained interest in the Boramae since 2023, when the UAE explored the possibility of joining the development program, and follows extensive technical briefings provided to UAE Air Force leadership during IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Over the past decade, South Korea and the UAE have developed one of the most comprehensive defense partnerships between an Asian and Gulf nation. Cooperation began with the deployment of South Korean special operations forces to train UAE troops and expanded into major arms contracts including K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, armored vehicles and advanced air defense systems. The UAE has also engaged with South Korea on technology transfer projects, joint training programs and the acquisition of unmanned systems and naval solutions. High-level defense dialogues have become regular, with the most recent example being the 13th Korea-UAE Vice Ministerial-level Steering Committee held in Seoul on August 6, 2025, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to long-term cooperation in defense science, advanced weapons development and industrial collaboration.
General Lee Young-soo, the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force, and Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi, the Undersecretary of Defence for the United Arab Emirates, on a high-profile friendship flight on August 7. The expedition started at Sacheon Air Base, which is in South Gyeongsang Province.
The Republic of Korea Air Force says that Al Alawi was sitting in the back of a prototype of the KF-21 Boramae. General Lee was flying a small combat plane called the FA-50 that was made in Korea.
This was the first time a high-ranking UAE military official has flown in ROK’s most advanced fighter. The Air Force added that the event showed how advanced the KF-21’s technology is, which will help it sell better throughout the world.
The visit was part of a bigger effort for defence diplomacy.
On 5 August, Al Alawi met ROK’s Minister of National Defence, Ahn Kyu-back, followed by the 13th Korea-UAE Vice-Ministerial Steering Committee meeting in Seoul on 6 August. The talks were mostly on working together in the military sector, science and technology, and how to make intelligence, cyber capabilities, and artificial intelligence work better together.
Both sides agreed to do further training together and exchange personnel. Korea also said that its Black Eagles aerobatic squad will appear at the Dubai Air Show in November. The engagement builds on a “special strategic partnership” between the two countries and follows earlier agreements, including an April 2025 cooperation deal enabling UAE personnel to observe KF-21 trials and participate in flight testing.
The KF-21 Boramae, currently in development, is designed to offer air combat capabilities and bolster Korea’s defence industry exports. Seoul sees the UAE as a key partner in the aircraft’s potential international rollout, with the high-visibility flight at Sacheon underscoring shared strategic ambitions.
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