South Korea has tested the KF-21 fighter in the sky for the first time. The development cost $6.67 billion
South Korea tested a prototype KF-21 fighter in the sky for the first time.
What we know
This was reported by Yonhap News. The fighter made its maiden flight from the 3rd Training Flight Wing in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, the headquarters of its manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Ltd. The plane stayed in the air for about 30-40 minutes. It had a maximum flight speed of 400 km/h. After that it landed successfully. The tests of KF-21 should last until 2026. Then South Korea is planning to begin mass production of the novelty.
For those who do not know
KF-21 (original name KF-X) is a joint project of South Korea and Indonesia with 80% and 20% participation respectively. Its cost is 6.67 billion, although initially it was estimated at $5.2 billion. Development of the fighter began in 2001. Many scandals and spy stories are associated with the plane. Initially KF-X was planned as a fifth generation fighter with capabilities of F-22 and dimensions of F-16. But during the development the requirements for KF-X were lowered. As a result it became a 4.5 generation aircraft. The KF-X is 13 meters long and 4.5 meters tall.
Source: Yonhap News
For those who want to know more
- AFU showed how they use FH70 155 mm howitzers at the front (video)
- AFU uses ZVI Falcon OP99 sniper rifles, the Czech Republic gave them to Ukraine at the beginning of full-scale war
- Following Lithuania and Poland: Norway raises $5,440,000 for Bayraktar TB2 UAVs for Ukrainian military
- 30 occupiers and up to 20 vehicles: Ukrainian Air Force reports successful air strikes for July 17
- MLRS M270 or HIMARS work: ammunition warehouse exploded at occupiers in Nova Kakhovka
- Poland buys 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks from US and is likely to give its PT-91 tanks to Ukraine in return
- media: ukrainian military is already learning how to use German Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled guns
- Ukrainian artillerymen destroyed ammunition and Russian 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun
- AFU and SBU work together: Ukrainian defenders shot down two Russian Su-25 planes with MANPADs
- Officially: m270 multiple rocket launchers with a range of up to 80 km are already in Ukraine
- AFU one step closer to getting American F-15 and F-16 aircraft
- Ukrainian soldiers use Iranian HM-16 mortars: we tell what they are and how the AFU got them