South Korea’s First Homegrown Fighter Jet Completes Test Flight

South Korea's domestically developed fighter jet successfully completed its first test flight on July 19, 2022, a defense agency said, amid a push to replace aging military jets in the face of nuclear and missile threats from neighboring North Korea.

The next-generation aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries in a project partially backed by Indonesia is designed to be a cheaper, less stealthy alternative to the U.S.-built F-35, on which South Korea relies.

A prototype of the jet, dubbed KF-21, took off from an air force base in the southeastern city of Sacheon and flew for about 30 minutes, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a statement.

The new jet faces more testing until 2026, when mass production is set to begin.

South Korea unveiled the first prototype of the KF-21 in April last year, hailing the aircraft as the future backbone of its air force and a step toward greater military independence for the U.S. ally in East Asia.

(Reuters)

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