Shoufei was successful, Korean media was excited

According to the latest news from Yonhap News Agency, 16:13 in South Korea time (at the same time, at the same time, 15:13 Beijing time), the prototype of the KF-21 fighter at the first flight mission landed smoothly.

Yonhap News Agency reported screenshots

Yonhap News Agency reported screenshots

The Yonhap News Agency said that the KF-21 prototype was taken off from the 3rd Training Worker (located near KAI Headquarters) at the South Korean Air Force 3rd Training Federation (located near KAI Headquarters) at about 3:40 pm. Basic performance. During the flight, the flight speed of the aircraft was about 400 kilometers per hour, and supersonic flight was not performed.

Yonhap News Agency reported screenshots

According to reports, in November 2000, then South Korean President Kim John announced that South Korea would independently develop a "high-performance fighter". In 2002, the South Korean military also decided to develop a new product that performance beyond KF-16 fighters. After long -term preparation, the South Korean Defense Administration Planning Administration signed a systematic development contract with KAI (South Korea Aerospace Industry Corporation) in December 2015.

According to the US "Theaviationist" website, the KF-21 fighter is considered a low-cost partner for the US-made F-35 fighter purchased for South Korea and is expected to start service around 2030. This fighter uses a certain stealth design, and its stealth ability will be significantly inferior to the F-35 fighter, but it will be significantly better than the KF-16 and KF-15 fighters that are greatly better than the Korean Air Force.

Screenshot of the "Theaviationist" website report

The "The Drive" website in the United States stated that due to cost considerations, the current KF-21 fighter aircraft did not use internal bullet design. There are 10 plug-ins under wings and fuselage, which can be equipped with 7.7 tons of weapons. The "The Drive" website states that South Korea may develop a KF-21 fighter improvement type with strong stealth performance in the future, and the exposure of the double-seater prototype means that South Korea may allow the KF-21 to execute the "loyalist watron "Drone command control tasks.

It is understood that the Korean side announced on June 27, 2022 that the KF-21 fighter engine ignition test was successfully conducted. This fighter used two F414-GE-400K engines. The F-414 engine was developed by the United States GM for the U.S. "Super Hornet" fighter. It has excellent acceleration performance and maintenance. It is a very advanced medium thrust turbofan engine.

It is worth noting that South Korea and Indonesia reached a cooperation agreement in 2014. Indonesia promised to undertake 20%of the development costs of the KF-21 fighter project and purchased a certain number of fighters. According to the plan, South Korea will purchase 120 KF-21 fighters, while Indonesia should purchase 50 fighters.

The "theaviaTiTiST" website said that some of the KF-21 fighters are similar to F-22 and F-35 fighters. South Korea claims that 65%of the aircraft technology is independently developed by South Korea, including the active phase control array radar.

The Yonhap News Agency is very excited that the first flight of the KF-21 fighter prototype is marked that South Korea is the eighth country in the world that can develop supersonic fighters (Yonhap News Agency will jointly develop the "Typhoon" fighter. The other six countries are one step closer for the United States, Russia, China, Japan, France, and Sweden). Interestingly, India, which has developed LCA fighters, does not seem to be included in the ranks of "countries that can develop supersonic fighters" by the Yonhap News Agency.

Xiaobian Z

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