Air Force Chief of Staff Takes First Command Flight with KF-21 Test Flight

On November 5, Air Force Chief of Staff Sohn Seokrak took his first command flight aboard the KF-21 Boramae, South Korea's 4.5-generation fighter jet.

According to the Air Force, General Sohn boarded the KF-21 fighter jet at Sacheon Air Base in South Gyeongsang Province that morning, accompanied by test pilot Major Kang Juhun, and conducted a test flight. This was General Sohn's first command flight since taking office, and he chose the KF-21 as the aircraft for this inaugural flight. The KF-21 Boramae is a 4.5-generation supersonic fighter jet currently being developed by South Korea.

General Sohn, together with test pilot Major Kang Juhun, boarded the KF-21 and carried out a test flight to inspect flight stability and the accuracy of the aircraft's avionics. Prior to the flight, General Sohn checked the overall condition of the aircraft, including avionics, flight controls, and engine systems. He then performed a variety of maneuvers such as climbing, turning, and high-speed flight for approximately 50 minutes.

Additionally, General Sohn monitored the real-time operation of the domestically developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar installed on the KF-21. He also used the aircraft's embedded training system (ETS) to operate simulated armaments, including the Meteor medium-range air-to-air missile and the AIM-2000 short-range air-to-air missile, successfully shooting down virtual enemy aircraft.

General Sohn has accumulated over 2,900 flight hours piloting the Air Force's mainstay aircraft such as the F-4E and F-15K, and has served as both a pilot and commander of the Air Force's special flight team, the Black Eagles. Major Kang, who flew alongside General Sohn, is a test pilot with more than 1,200 flight hours.

General Sohn stated, "It was a truly moving experience to board the KF-21, the Korean fighter jet we longed for so much at the time of the F-15K introduction. Not only its maneuverability but also its avionics and stability were outstanding in many respects. I can confidently say that it is a top-tier fighter jet closer to the fifth generation than the fourth." He added, "I believe it is an attractive fighter jet that will draw the attention of many countries at various domestic and international events, and I am confident that the KF-21 will further elevate the prestige of Korea's defense industry."