South Korea began production of the homegrown KF-21 fighter jet Wednesday, the defense procurement agency said, in the latest milestone in the country's efforts to build an advanced fighter aircraft. A ceremony marking the assembly of the first KF-21 production model took place at Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the jet's manufacturer, in Sacheon, 296 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). South Korea launched the KF-21 development program in 2015, with the aim of acquiring an advanced supersonic fighter to replace its aging fleet of U.S.-made jets, including the F-5. Last month, KAI signed a 1.96 trillion-won (US$1.41 billion) deal with DAPA to build 20 KF-21 units through 2027. The country seeks to build even more units and operate a total of 120 KF-21s by 2032. DAPA said the first production model is scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force in late 2026. Since the development project began, DAPA has conducted various flight and armament tests on six KF-21 prototypes. Source: Yonhap News Agency