Mechanical activation-assisted self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (MA-SHS) in air was successfully applied to the synthesis of the powder mixtures of ZrB2 and ZrC as a precursor of the ZrB2-ZrC composite. When the powder mixtures of Zr/B/C = 4/2/3-6/10/1 in molar ratio were mechanically activated (MA) by ball milling for 45-60 min and then exposed to air, they self-ignited spontaneously and the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) was occurred to form ZrB2 and ZrC. The ZrB2-ZrC composites were produced from these MA-SHS powders by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1800 degrees C for 5-10 min and showed the fine and homogeneous microstructure composed of the < 5 mu m-sized grains. The mechanical properties of the composites evaluated by Vickers indentation method showed the values of Vickers hardness of 13.6-17.8 GPa and fracture toughness of 2.9-5.1 MPa(.)m(1/2), depending on the molar ratio of ZrB2/ZrC. Thus, the better microstructure and mechanical properties of the ZrB2-ZrC composites were obtained from the MA-SHS powder mixtures, compared with those obtained from the MA powder, the mixing powder and the commercial powder mixtures.