Arab Defense Website – November 20, 2025: It seems that the UAE is on the verge of concluding a huge contract with South Korea, whose value may reach about $15 billion, to participate in the program to develop the advanced Korean fighter KF‑21, after it was unable to obtain the American F‑35A fighter.
In light of the transformations in the regional scene, as Saudi Arabia moved towards contracting 48 F‑35 fighters, and Turkey continues to develop its local project KAAN, while Israel has its own version of the F‑35I, it has become clear that the UAE Rafale deal – despite its importance – did not satisfy the ambitions of the UAE Air Force.
Today, the UAE seeks to go beyond just purchasing fighters; It is moving towards a real industrial partnership that will allow it to acquire technical expertise, develop a local industrial base, and integrate Emirati ammunition and missiles into a fighter that will be established jointly, in line with its vision to build independent and advanced capabilities in the field of defense industries.
The UAE’s interest in the South Korean KF-21 fighter comes in the context of its efforts to enhance its air capabilities after the possibility of obtaining American F-35A fighters failed, which prompted it to search for modern and effective alternatives that keep pace with regional developments. Through this project, Abu Dhabi seeks to reach an advanced level of military technology, including participating in fighter development programs and providing its technical expertise with the ability to benefit from the new generation of combat aircraft, whether in the field of sensors, aviation, or smart weapons.
In addition, this step represents part of the UAE’s strategy to strengthen its local defense industry and open horizons for technical cooperation with international partners, allowing it to reduce dependence on abroad in the future. This deal demonstrates the UAE’s ambition to build a technologically advanced air force that enables it to adapt to regional security challenges and compete in the regional arms market.
Abu Dhabi’s interest in participating in the development of the KF-21 also reflects its desire to own an important technical and military stake in an international project, which gives it advantages in maintaining the aircraft, modernizing it, and developing its future capabilities in accordance with the requirements of the national defense and its strategic agenda.
The UAE’s endeavor to participate in the KF‑21 program is also linked to the ambition to transform the fighter into a version more close to stealth standards, which is what South Korea is already working on in the later stages of development. The UAE’s participation with huge funding gives it a direct influence in directing the development path towards improving the radar signature, adopting frequency-absorbing materials, and developing the hull design so that it gradually approaches fifth-generation fighters.
This role is not limited to formal specifications, but also includes developing mission management software, enhancing sensor integration capabilities, and expanding the use of electronic warfare systems, which are critical elements in achieving operational stealth.
The UAE views this feature as an opportunity to obtain a “customizable” stealth fighter that matches its defense needs, and without the political and diplomatic restrictions that usually accompany advanced American fighters. The project also gives it direct access to the aircraft’s engineering, allowing for a more precise understanding of its stealth characteristics, and the development of future versions that can bear its national imprint, similar to joint projects between major countries.
The South Korean KF‑21 Boramae fighter has advanced characteristics that make it closer to 4.5 generation fighters, with the potential for later development to an improved stealth level, especially with the UAE entering the financing and development line.
The aircraft includes a structural structure based on a design that reduces the radar signature through sharp lines and thoughtful angles, and a structure made of composite materials that reduce radar reflections. While the first generation version of the KF‑21 is not a full stealth aircraft, it has a basis that allows it to be developed towards greater stealth in later versions, including the adoption of internal weapons bays instead of external mounts. The two General Electric F414 engines give it high thrust, allowing it to reach a speed of approximately Mach 1.8, with excellent maneuverability and sustained speed at medium and high altitudes, making it suitable for both air sovereignty and precision strike missions.
The armament includes a wide mix of guided missiles, including air-to-air missiles such as the AIM‑120 AMRAAM for fighting beyond visual range and IRIS‑T or AIM‑9X missiles for close combat, in addition to plans to integrate long-range European Meteor missiles, which gives it an engagement capability superior to traditional fourth-generation fighters. It can also carry guided air-to-surface missiles such as the Taurus KEPD 350 to hit fortified targets over long distances, in addition to laser- or GPS-guided smart bombs, and local munitions systems that Korea is developing to reduce dependence on foreign sources. When the design later transitions to a stealth version with internal containers, it becomes possible to carry weapons in a way that significantly reduces the radar signature.
The radar in this fighter is one of its most important strengths. It is an advanced AESA radar developed locally by South Korea, and it includes more than a thousand transmitting and receiving units, which gives it a high ability to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously, including small, low-footprint targets. The radar has a high level of resistance to jamming, with the possibility of integrating it with an advanced data link that allows the aircraft to operate within a wide combat network, which increases the effectiveness of friendly aircraft in attack and defense. In addition to the radar, the fighter has an infrared search and tracking system (IRST) capable of detecting thermal targets without sending any radiation, allowing it to carry out silent clashes similar to fifth-generation fighters.
The KF‑21’s electronic warfare systems are advanced and include jamming beams, radar warning devices, and data fusion capabilities from various sensors to form a unified picture of the battle, making the aircraft an integrated combat platform capable of jamming, monitoring, and engagement simultaneously. These systems can also be developed later to approach the level of standards used in fighters such as the F‑35, especially if the UAE shares its capabilities and cooperation with international companies in enhancing these aspects.
With these specifications, the KF‑21 represents an open development project, capable of graduating from a highly capable 4.5 generation fighter to a full-fledged stealth platform in future versions, making it a strategic choice for the Emirates looking for an advanced fighter without the political and export restrictions that surround American fighters.
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