An alert for Kim Jong-un: the South Korean KF-21 fighter reached supersonic speed

The South Korean KF-21 fighter reached this Tuesday the supersonic speed in a test flight, marking a milestone in the development project of a high-profile warplane by seoul.

The fighter prototype reached 1,224 kilometers per hour (Mach 1) at an altitude of 40,000 feet during the test flight carried out this Tuesday over waters in the south of the country, according to the Defense Acquisition Program (DAPA).

The flight, which lasted about an hour, took place in sacheonabout 300 kilometers south of Seoul and the same airfield where the fighter made its first test flight last July.

South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong Supointed out that it was a “historic” achievement that will allow the country “build a robust army based on science and technology”in statements collected by DAPA.

Today’s test also represents “one more step towards the objective of turning the country into the fourth largest exporter of defense material in the world”.

Guaranteeing the ability of the FK-21 to fly at supersonic speeds is one of the key points in the development program for the aircraft, of which DAPA plans to create six prototypes to carry out up to 2,000 test flights until 2026.

South Korea’s plan to produce a 4.5-generation supersonic fighter jet has been fraught with skepticism for years due to its cost of production. 8.8 trillion won (over $6.7 billion) and the problem of not having key US technology patents.

The idea of ​​developing an indigenous South Korean fighter to replace the obsolete ones F-4 and F-5 It was approved in 2013 and two years later Washington refused to transfer four technologies that had to be developed by South Korean companies.

Seoul wants to integrate the KF-21 into its air response system, which already includes fighters F-15 and F-35in case of North Korean attack.

(With information from EFE)

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