Hanwha, LIG Nex1 to Develop Air-to-Air Missiles for KF-21 Fighter Jet

South Korea on Tuesday launched a 435.9 billion won ($296 million) program to develop short-range air-to-air guided missiles for its domestically built KF-21 fighter aircraft.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the project aims to complete development by 2032 as part of efforts to expand indigenous weapons systems for fighter jets and support defense exports.

The Agency for Defense Development will lead the program, while local defense firms, including Hanwha Aerospace and LIG Nex1, are expected to participate.

In October, European MBDA and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the integration of the SPEAR Air-to-Ground missile onto the KF-21. The jet is already equipped with MBDA’s METEOR air-to-air missile. South Korea fast-tracked plans to introduce air-to-ground capabilities for the KF-21 in August, moving the timeline forward by more than a year.