2nd Prototype of S.Korea’s KF-21 Jet Completes Maiden Flight

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the second prototype of homegrown KF-21 Boramae fighter jet took to the skies for the first time.

The 4.5th-generation jet took off from the Air Force's 3rd Flying Training Wing in Sacheon, about 300km south of Seoul, at 9:49 a.m. and landed without a hitch about 35 minutes later. Sources told local media that the KF-21 flew at an average speed of 407 kph during the flight.

Launched in 2015, the 8.8 trillion-won ($6.4 billion) KF-21 project is aimed at developing a supersonic fighter model to replace South Korea's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets. Seoul plans to deploy 120 KF-21 aircraft by 2032.

Also read: South Korea’s KF-X to Challenge Fighter jets from Boeing, Dassault and Russia

KF-21’s first prototype succeeded in its maiden flight on July 19.

Developer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to produce four more prototypes that will make test flights in stages from December 2022 till the first half of 2023.