The sixth and final prototype of the Korean KF-21 Boramae fighter left the ground for the first time for a successful 33-minute test flight.
The aircraft took off for the first time on June 28 at 15:49 (local time), from Sacheon Air Base, home of the 3rd Training Wing of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), landing safely at 16:22.
With the successful first flight of prototype n°6 (and the second two-seater model) today, the six flight test prototypes of the KF-21 Boramae finally succeeded in their first flight. Prototype n°1 took to the skies for the first time on 7/19/2022, prototype n°2 took off on 11/10/22, n°3 on 1/2/2023, n°4 (two-seater) on 2/20/2023 and n°5 left the ground on 5/16/2023.
The sixth prototype confirmed the correct aerodynamic performance of the two-seater variant of the KF-21. The performance of the avionics equipment in the cockpit and that of the AESA radar were also tested.
The Defense Acquisition Programs Administration (DAPA) reports that all aircraft flew according to schedule, and that flight tests with the six prototypes will allow verification of capabilities such as supersonic flight, advanced avionics and electronic warfare equipment, air-to-air armament, etc. Analysis of the results obtained will allow improvements to be made in the development programme of the KF-21 Boramae, the first part of which should be completed by 2026. After that, serial production of the first KF-21s of Block 1 (considered to be 4.5-generation aircraft) starts, in parallel with the development of Block 2, which will have a more advanced construction, will use an improved radar wave absorbing paint and will be internally armed.
