SEOUL, Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) said Tuesday it has signed a 1.96 trillion-won (US$1.41 billion) deal with the state defense procurement agency to start production of the next-generation KF-21 fighter jet. The contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) covers a total of 20 KF-21 units, including follow-up logistics support, such as technical manuals and training. KAI stressed the significance of the deal, as "it realizes the national aspiration for self-reliant defense by protecting our airspace with our technology." It added that the contract marks the beginning of the full-scale production phase of the KF-21, while noting that the jet will become a core asset of the country's Air Force. South Korea launched the KF-21 fighter development program with Indonesia in 2015, with the aim of acquiring a homegrown supersonic fighter to replace its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets. DAPA has been staging various performance tests on its fleet of six KF-21 prototypes since th e first one made its maiden flight in July 2022. Source: Yonhap News Agency