The prototype of the KF-21 Boramae twin-seat fighter takes to the air for the first time

Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) has begun flight tests of a prototype two-seat fighter, the KF-21 Boramae. It is the first time the aircraft has flown.

Here's What We Know

KAI already has several prototypes of the KF-21 in the single-seat version. One of them will be shipped to Indonesia as soon as that country finances its share of the development programme.

On 20 February 2023, KAI conducted its first flight test of the two-seat version of the fighter. The aircraft remained in the air for 34 minutes. There was only one pilot on board.

Just over a year passed between the announcement of the two-seat version of the KF-21 Boramae and the first flight test. In January 2022, KAI officially confirmed that it was developing a two-pilot aircraft.

Including the fighter jet you just read about, KAI already has five Boramae prototypes. As we noted earlier, one of them will be sent to Indonesia, which is financing 20% of the development programme. In total, the company plans to build six prototypes.

KAI has conducted several tests of the single-seat KF-21 configuration over the year. The fighter was recently able to reach supersonic speeds (343 m/s).

Source: Yonhap