[비즈한국] Attention is focusing on whether Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)047810’s KF-21 ‘Boramae’ model will participate as an additional candidate in Peru’s next-generation fighter jet procurement project. While Peruvian media reported that the Peruvian Air Force excluded the KF-21 due to unmet requirements, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and KAI stated that they are in discussions through various channels to ensure the KF-21 can participate in the project.
According to industry sources, DAPA and KAI are continuing consultations to ensure the KF-21 can become an additional candidate for Peru’s next-generation fighter project. To this end, KAI participated in ‘SITDEF 2025,’ Peru’s premier integrated defense exhibition representing the South American region, on the 25th of last month.
Peru is currently pursuing a next-generation fighter procurement project to replace its aging Russian aircraft, such as the Su-25 and MiG-29. It is known that Sweden’s SAAB 39 Gripen, France’s Dassault Rafale F4, and the U.S. F-16V Block 70 are currently being reviewed as candidate models.
As the stability of the KF-21’s development has boosted global confidence in the platform, KAI proposed to the Peruvian government in September last year that it be included as an additional candidate for the fighter acquisition project.
KAI is expanding its aerospace industrial cooperation with Peru by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SEMAN, Peru’s state-owned aviation maintenance company, for the local joint production of KF-21 components. SEMAN is a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Defense established to promote Peru’s aviation industry, handling depot maintenance and performance upgrades. Of the 20 KT-1P trainer jets KAI contracted to export to Peru in 2012, 16 were assembled locally by SEMAN.
If the Peruvian Air Force contracts with KAI for the next-generation fighter project, it would have the advantage of being able to produce and deploy the aircraft locally, similar to the KT-1. KAI could also utilize this as a local production hub for other Latin American countries.
However, local Peruvian media reported that the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) excluded the KF-21 from the list of candidate models because it did not meet the country’s operational requirements, drawing attention to the underlying reasons. According to a report by the Peruvian outlet ‘La República’ on the 19th of last month, while KAI has spent the past six months proposing the KF-21 to the Peruvian government and requesting an evaluation, the Peruvian Air Force has not included the KF-21 on its list of candidate models.
Peruvian media also reported that on the 7th of last month, DAPA Commissioner Seok Jong-gun sent a letter to Peruvian Defense Minister Walter Astudillo urging him to have the Peruvian Air Force evaluate the KF-21 proposal. The letter reportedly stated, "As previously conveyed through various official letters from the South Korean Embassy in Peru, the Korean Defense Attaché’s Office, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), we once again confirm our strong interest in participating in the next acquisition process to be initiated by the Peruvian Armed Forces Procurement Agency (ACFFAA). We request your support to ensure that the KF-21 fighter jet can participate in the Peruvian Air Force’s acquisition program this year." Regarding this, DAPA emphasized that there has been no official confirmation that the KF-21 has been excluded from the target list.
KAI also added that the KF-21 has never been excluded from the candidate list for the Peruvian project. A KAI official emphasized, “It wasn’t selected as a candidate in the first place, so it couldn't have been excluded. We expect that Peru continues to look at the KF-21 with interest and will not rule it out as a candidate. We are consistently carrying out marketing activities through our Latin America office in Peru.”