The cash-rich kingdom of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) appears to be interested in the South Korean KF-21 Boramae fighter jets as the two states pursue closer defense ties. 

The UAE and South Korean air forces have signed a letter of intent (LoI) for comprehensive cooperation on South Korean fighter jets.

The agreement was signed between the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) Chief of Staff, Gen. Lee Young-su, and the Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, Maj. Gen. Rashed Mohammed A. Al Shamsi, during the latter’s visit to the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which manufactures the KF-21 fighters and the FA-50 light attack jets.

This preliminary agreement will enable the UAE Air Force to visit South Korean units that will operate the KF-21 fighters and observe air drills involving the aircraft. The agreement did not specify whether the UAE would be interested in purchasing the aircraft from South Korea; however, it is believed that the Letter of Intent (LoI) can pave the way for a future deal.

The UAE first evinced interest in the KF-21 in 2023 as part of its plan to acquire next-generation fighter jets. At the time, reports noted the UAE’s Tawazun Economic Council had sent a letter to the South Korean National Security Office asserting Abu Dhabi’s direct cooperation in the KF-21 program.

The interest may have deepened after the UAE Air Force Air Defense Commander and KAI President Kang Gu-young met in February at the “IDEX 2025” show in Abu Dhabi, where the KAI chief briefed the UAE air chief on KF-21’s current state and its potential for growth through integration with artificial intelligence (AI) pilots in future battlefields.

The KAI has been seeking entry into the Middle Eastern export market, where several countries are looking to upgrade their military amid growing security threats from state and non-state actors, albeit without the restrictions that come with purchasing Western equipment.

Speaking of the UAE delegation’s visit, KAI president Kang stated, “This visit by the air force provided an opportunity to showcase KAI’s advanced aircraft development technology to the UAE and laid the groundwork for expanding defense cooperation in the future.” “We will continue to strive for exports to the Middle East and Africa.”

The UAE, which primarily operates the Mirage 2000 and F-16 Fighting Falcon, has been seeking more advanced combat jets since negotiations with the US for F-35 stealth fighters fell apart.

The Emirati kingdom earlier had plans to purchase 50 F-35 Lightning II fighters as part of a package deal that was to include 18 advanced drone systems and other munitions. However, the kingdom chose to abandon the project after talks with US officials hit a stalemate, and the US officials began to drag their feet on the sale.

The US’s reluctance to sell the aircraft to the UAE was attributed to the UAE’s close ties with China, as well as the US’s obligation to ensure that Israel maintains a qualitative military edge in the region.

With talks on the F-35 stalled, the UAE signed a deal with France’s Dassault Aviation to purchase 80 Rafale F4 fighters in December 2021—the single largest Rafale order placed by any country in the world. The first of these fighter jets was delivered to the kingdom’s air force in January 2025.

Notably, the Letter of Intent (LoI) between the UAE and South Korean Air Forces was signed months after the UAE announced in September 2024 that it did not intend to reopen talks on the potential purchase of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

In addition to the South Korean KF-21, the Emirati kingdom has shown interest in another advanced-generation fighter jet: the Turkish KAAN. Thus, it indicates that the kingdom is exploring non-American, 5th-gen aircraft options.

The US has traditionally been the primary arms supplier to the UAE, accounting for 57% of Emirati arms imports between 2019 and 2023. However, the country now appears to be pivoting away from the US, as evidenced by its interest in alternatives to the F-35. 

KF-21 Is A South Korean Marvel 

The KF-21, an advanced supersonic fighter, is slated to replace the South Korean Air Force’s aging F-4 and F-5 jet fleet. The Boramae fighter jet is slated to be the primary aircraft for South Korea’s Air Force and is expected to significantly enhance the country’s three-axis defense system, which is designed to counter potential threats from North Korea.

Last year, the KF-21 Boramae, which began development nine years ago, reached a significant milestone when a deal was signed between South Korea and KAI to produce 20 units. These fighter jets are slated for initial delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) by the end of 2026.

The KAI chief, Kang, has projected the aircraft as a better alternative than European 4.5th-generation fighters. 

Kang, a retired Air Force lieutenant who previously flew the F-4 fighter jet, said, “They say the KF-21 is a 4.5-generation fighter, but I think that’s an underestimation. Compared to the 4.5-generation French Rafale and the European Eurofighter Typhoon, its performance is superior. So, I call it a 4.9-generation fighter, which is closer to the 5th generation (a fighter with full stealth capabilities).”

He pointed to the aircraft’s radar cross-section (RCS), which places it closer to the fifth-generation fighters. Additionally, it incorporates advanced features, such as the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, commonly referred to as the “eye of a fighter,” and various electronic warfare equipment.

However, the KF-21 still does not match the capabilities of the F-35, despite its airframe being considered stealthier than that of fourth-generation fighters. Although it does not currently have internal weapons bays, this could change in future improvements, leading to the reclassification of the aircraft as a fifth-generation fighter.

Once that happens, KF-21 could become the fourth country to develop and operate a 5th-generation warplane. Currently, depending on the configuration, the aircraft has nine to ten external hardpoints for weapons.

The aircraft is equipped with air-to-air missiles, bombs, and cutting-edge machine guns. Last year, the KF-21 also conducted its first live-fire test with the long-range air-to-air Meteor missile as well as the testing of the IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile, further showcasing the fighter’s capabilities.

Many experts view the KF-21 as a potential star in the global export market due to its rapid development and possibly prompt deliveries. This excitement stems from South Korea’s successes as a major global arms exporter, particularly multiple significant export contracts for the FA-50 light attack aircraft over the last decade.

Kang states that one of the key advantages of the KF-21 is its cost-effectiveness, being approximately 30-40% less expensive than its competitors.

Efforts are also underway to further reduce the price through enhanced automation processes. The South Korean official also noted that several Middle Eastern nations are showing notable and increasing interest in the FA-50, without naming any country.