South Korea Debuts Fighter Jet in Defense Push as Iran War Rages

South Korea has begun rolling out its homegrown fighter jet, positioning the aircraft as a cheaper alternative to Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 as the war in Iran prompts Gulf nations to scramble to build up their defenses.

“Our fighter jet, built with our own strength to defend our own skies, has finally completed preparations for operational deployment,” President Lee Jae Myung said at a ceremony to mark the first jet to come off the production line in the southern city of Sacheon on Wednesday.