def align_records(cobol_records: list[dict], java_records: list[dict],
                 key_field: str = "CUST-ID") -> list[tuple]:
    if not cobol_records and not java_records:
        return []

    def _by(records, kf):
        d = {}
        for r in records:
            key = str(r.get(kf, "__NONE__"))
            d.setdefault(key, []).append(r)
        return d

    c_by = _by(cobol_records, key_field)
    j_by = _by(java_records, key_field)
    pairs = []
    all_keys = set(c_by) | set(j_by)

    for k in sorted(all_keys):
        c_items = c_by.get(k, [])
        j_items = j_by.get(k, [])
        for i in range(max(len(c_items), len(j_items))):
            c = c_items[i] if i < len(c_items) else None
            j = j_items[i] if i < len(j_items) else None
            if c and j:
                pairs.append((c, j, "MATCHED"))
            elif c:
                pairs.append((c, None, "MISSING_IN_SPARK"))
            else:
                pairs.append((None, j, "EXTRA_IN_SPARK"))
    return pairs