The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) — South Korea's state arms procurement agency — briefed lawmakers on Thursday, saying it is seeking to sign a contract next year to mass-produce KF-21 Boramae fighter jets. DAPA is also pushing to complete a provisional combat suitability test on the jet in May.

Under the plan, DAPA will sign a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to begin mass production of the jets in the first half of next year. But before doing so, it will conduct a feasibility study on the production from May to August and finalize the mass production plan in December. DAPA plans to deploy the first KF-21 in 2026.