News reaching us from Soul, South Korea is that the country has acquired a supersonic fighter jet. This KF-21 Boramae jet was constructed in the country.
You might be aware that there are few countries around the world who own the supersonic jets.
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The jet was flown by pilot Maj. Ahn Jun-hyun who informed media that the flight went on as planned.
At least six jets have been made by Korea Aerospace Industries and over 2,000 test flights will be conducted until 2026. After that South Korea will commence the process of mass production.
The country expects to produce 120 jets for South Korea air-force by 2030.
When they become operations, the jets will be fitted with air-launched cruise missiles, air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles. The jet operates on two engines and will come out in form of single or two-seat versions.
During the test flight, the supersonic jet was fitted with infra-red search-and-track system and mock-up meteor air-to-air missiles.
The jet reached 400 kilometers per hours or 250 mph during the test flight. President of South Korea, Yoon Seok Yeol, stated that the test flight was “a splendid achievement in national defense independence.”
The supersonic jet (KF-21) is a joint ventures between South Korea (82%) and Indonesia.
This is a big milestone for a country that does not have a long history of aircraft manufacturing.
There are few other countries that have developed supersonic jets. These are: France, Russia, United States of America, China, Sweden, Japan, a European consortium made up of (U.K, Spain, Germany, Italy).
“The KF-21 is the first fighter aircraft made with domestic technology, and it indicates that South Korea is now able to build fighter aircraft on its own. It will also be a stepping stone to develop better fighter aircraft and operate locally developed arms,” DAPA said last year.
“The program has significantly enhanced South Korean aerospace capabilities particularly in design, manufacture, airframe components and avionic systems,” said Layton, a former Royal Australian Air Force officer.
The KF-21 is poised to replace South Korea’s F-4 and F-5 fighters and the third-generation fighter jets made by USA and introduced in the 1960s.
Later they will also replace the F-16s and F-15Ks in the South Korea fleet according to the Chief Editor of Military Watch magazine – The Diplomat.
“Given the parlous state of the aging North Korean air force fighters, the KF-21 considerably over-matches them,” he said.
Further, the KF-21 is likely to be exported more because it is cheaper that the F-35s of the USA which are more expensive.
South Korea sees Iraq, Philippines and Thailand as some of the leading clients of the KF-21s.
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