'Boramae' KF-21 Successfully Completes First Night Flight

Successful Night Flight of Domestic Supersonic Fighter Jet
"Confirmed Normal Operation of Internal and External Lighting"

South Korea's domestically produced supersonic fighter jet KF-21 'Boramae' has successfully completed its first night flight.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on the 10th, the KF-21 prototypes No. 3 and No. 4 attempted night flight tests on the 9th. This was the first time the KF-21 model undertook a night flight. A DAPA official explained, "We confirmed the normal operation of the aircraft's internal and external lighting under limited light conditions," adding, "With this test, we expect the KF-21 to be capable of performing night flight missions."

KF-21 preparing for a night flight test
[Photo by Defense Acquisition Program Administration]

Aircraft lighting plays a crucial role in night flights, such as preventing collisions between aircraft and enabling pilots to identify instrument panels. The KF-21 prototype No. 1 successfully completed its maiden flight on July 19 last year, and the two-seat 'tandem' prototype No. 4 took its first flight on the 20th of last month, continuing smooth test flights. On January 17 this year, prototype No. 1 broke the sound barrier for the first time, showcasing performance befitting the title of 'supersonic fighter.'

DAPA plans to conduct about 2,000 test flights of the KF-21 by February 2026 to verify flight performance and expand the flight envelope. In particular, a provisional combat suitability evaluation is scheduled for the second half of this year.

Upon successful final development, the Air Force plans to deploy a total of 120 units, starting with an initial batch of 40 units between 2026 and 2028, followed by an additional 80 units by 2032, replacing the aging F-4 and F-5 fighters.

According to the manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the KF-21 measures 11.2 meters in wingspan, 16.9 meters in length, and 4.7 meters in height. It has domestically developed cutting-edge equipment such as an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system, and an integrated Electronic Warfare Suite (EW Suite). The aircraft is equipped with 10 weapon hardpoints, capable of mounting air-to-air weapons like the German AIM-2000 and British Meteor missiles, as well as air-to-ground weapons including the American GBU-12, domestic MK-82 and KGGB, and air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM).

With a maximum speed of Mach 1.81 (approximately 2,200 km/h) and a range of 2,900 km, it outperforms the F-35, which has a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 and a range of 2,200 km. The KF-21 has a weapons payload capacity of 7.7 tons. Its design incorporates some stealth features, classifying it currently as a 4.5-generation fighter, with plans for future upgrades to develop it into a full-fledged 5th-generation stealth fighter.