[단독] KF-21, 또 ‘악재’…미 캐노피 업체 “안 올려주면 생산 중단” [9시 뉴스] / KBS 2026.05.27.

The deployment schedule for the Korean-made KF-21 fighter jet is expected to be delayed due to budget issues. On top of this, KBS has confirmed through its investigation that the supply of cockpit canopies is also at risk of being halted. Reporter Yoon Jin provides an exclusive report on what exactly happened. [Report] The domestically produced supersonic fighter jet KF-21 has begun full-scale mass production. The cockpit is covered by a transparent structure called a 'canopy.' It is a core component of the fighter jet that protects the pilot in emergency situations, such as bird strikes, while withstanding supersonic speeds and rapid changes in altitude, temperature, and air pressure. Recently, the supply of these canopies has hit a roadblock. According to the military's plan, a total of 120 units are supposed to be mass-produced: 40 units first between this year and 2028, followed by 80 units by 2032. However, it has been confirmed that the U.S. canopy supplier has notified the company that it "cannot participate in subsequent mass production if these demands are not met," while also "demanding not only a two to three-fold increase in unit prices but also investment in production facilities." To accommodate these demands, up to an additional 62 billion won is required. The problem is that, despite the contractor's obstructionism, there are virtually no alternative suppliers available. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that the initial order of 40 units has been secured and that it is pursuing "local development" for subsequent production volumes; however, this alone costs around 20 billion won, and it remains unclear whether development will be completed in time for the deployment schedule. [Kang Dae-sik / Member of the National Assembly / National Defense Committee / People Power Party: "The KF-21 not only strengthens our Air Force capabilities but is also a promising prospect for the K-defense industry. If we are to consider exports, we must take this opportunity to find a way to increase the localization rate of parts."] With the mass production cost of the KF-21 already estimated to increase by 4.2 trillion won from the original estimate due to inflation and other factors, concerns are rising that if additional cost-increasing factors arise, it will cause difficulties in operational management by successively delaying not only the KF-21 deployment schedule but also the retirement of aging fighter jets. This is Yoon Jin from KBS News. Video Editing: Lee Jin-i / Graphics: Ko Seok-hoon ▣ View Original KBS Article: http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?nc... ▣ Send a Tip ◇ KakaoTalk: Search 'KBS제보' ◇ Phone: 02-781-1234 ◇ Website: https://goo.gl/4bWbkG ◇ Email: [email protected] Copyright ⓒ KBS. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use (including AI learning) are prohibited. #KF21 #KoreanFighterJet #SuspensionOfDelivery #CockpitCover #Canopy