"I am the first female test pilot of the KF-21"

Major Jeong Dajeong of Air Force Seosan Base Completes First Evaluation Mission

The first female test flight pilot of the Korean supersonic fighter KF-21 'Boramae,' which is under systematic development aiming for the introduction of the first mass-produced unit in Yangsan in 2026, has been born.

According to the Air Force on the 5th, on the morning of the previous day at the Air Force Seosan Base, Major Jeong Dajeong of the Air Force Test Evaluation Group's 52nd Test Flight Squadron completed her first evaluation mission as a test flight pilot by boarding the front seat of the KF-21.

Major Jeong obtained the 'KF-21 Development Test Flight Qualification' on August 23. This qualification can only be acquired after completing the test flight pilot training course and passing all evaluations including ground academic evaluation to confirm understanding of various KF-21 systems, simulator evaluation, engine start and ground taxi evaluation, and actual flight evaluation. Once qualified, she can perform missions solo without an instructor test flight pilot onboard.

A veteran pilot with about 1,300 flight hours, Major Jeong was selected in 2019 as the first female military pilot to enter the development test flight training course. She then completed 11 months of domestic test flight education and training and 9 months of practical training at an overseas flight test school.

While piloting her main aircraft, the KF-16, Major Jeong often thought, "It would be better if this was like this, or that was like that," which motivated her to challenge herself as a KF-21 test flight pilot. She reflected, "I developed a desire to contribute as an active pilot to developing an excellent fighter that forms the optimal combination with our pilots and a powerful fighter that firmly protects the Republic of Korea."

Major Jeong said, "The process to obtain the KF-21 test evaluation qualification was a continuous challenge every day," adding, "Experiences such as landing in bad weather with an unfinished aircraft reaffirmed the importance of 'basics' in flight missions, and I was able to confirm the excellence of the KF-21 as an all-weather fighter."

When asked if there were difficulties as a female military pilot, she answered, "There were no difficulties because I am a female pilot; anyone would have gone through tough and challenging processes," emphasizing, "There is no such thing as the first female KF-21 test flight pilot. There are only KF-21 test flight pilots."

Major Jeong also emphasized, "My ultimate dream as an Air Force pilot is to safely carry out missions until the end," and said, "I will devote all my capabilities to every sortie so that the stable operational deployment of the KF-21 can greatly advance the aerospace power of the Republic of Korea."

The KF-21 began development in 2016, went through design and prototype production, and conducted its first flight in July 2022. It received a provisional combat suitability certification in May last year. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to complete the KF-21 development process by June 2026 and deliver the first mass-produced unit to the Air Force by the end of 2026.