India is not currently considering South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae combat aircraft as part of its plan to acquire up to 114 advanced multi-role jets to replace aging models, according to local media.
Sources reported earlier this month that the KF-21 was under evaluation by the Indian Air Force as part of its ongoing search for next-generation tactical aircraft, citing the system’s affordability, upgrade potential, and compatibility with India’s defense industrial policies as key selling points.
In response, the military clarified in a statement to news outlet Indian Defence Research Wing that no such assessment is underway and that the KF-21 has not been offered to New Delhi.
“There has been no communication with Korean defense authorities or KAI [Korea Aerospace Industries] regarding the KF-21, nor is it on the [Indian Air Force’s] shortlist of evaluated platforms,” an official said, calling the reports “speculative and disconnected from current procurement priorities.”
Despite the KF-21 being a modern option for military partners seeking cost-effective fleet upgrades, India noted it is unlikely to be considered by its air force at this stage.
The stance mirrors a July Bloomberg update stating that India had informed US officials it was not pursuing the F-35, despite repeated offers from Washington.
New Delhi’s focus remains on expanding its indigenous fighter programs and is continuing to evaluate more established platforms under an ongoing 114-aircraft initiative, according to the Indian Defence Research Wing.
About the Boramae
South Korea launched the KF-21 Boramae program in 2011 to replace its US-built F-4 and F-5 fleets by 2026, with Seoul expected to adopt up to 120 fighter jets by the end of the decade.
The KF-21 measures 17 meters (57 feet) long with an 11-meter (36-foot) wingspan and can carry up to 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds) of fuel.
Powered by twin Hanwha/General Electric F414 engines generating a combined 110,000 horsepower, the jet has a top speed of Mach 1.8 (2,223 kilometers or 1,381 miles per hour), an operational range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,778 kilometers or 1,726 miles), and an operational altitude of 16,700 meters (54,790 feet).
