The second KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft prototype launches a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile during the aircraft's armament testing flight on 28 March 2023. (DAPA)

In a span of six weeks, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 aircraft programme has progressed from adding a new twin-seat prototype for flight-testing to initiating weapons launching trials using earlier prototypes.

Since the KF-21's first flight in July 2022, four prototypes have conducted more than 150 flight tests, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in March 2023. The programme's pace shows that South Korea is expanding its assessments of the aircraft's broader capabilities.

The introduction of the fourth prototype is enabling DAPA to explore the flight-worthiness and stability of the two-seat design. In a video posted by KAI on 6 March, CJ Kim of the KF-21 project team said flight-testing of prototype No 4 will “determine what impact the two-seat design has on aerodynamics”.

According to DAPA, the fourth prototype conducted its first test flight on 20 February.

The second KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft prototype launches a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile during the aircraft's armament testing flight on 28 March 2023. (DAPA)

In a span of six weeks, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 aircraft programme has progressed from adding a new twin-seat prototype for flight-testing to initiating weapons launching trials using earlier prototypes.

Since the KF-21's first flight in July 2022, four prototypes have conducted more than 150 flight tests, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in March 2023. The programme's pace shows that South Korea is expanding its assessments of the aircraft's broader capabilities.

The introduction of the fourth prototype is enabling DAPA to explore the flight-worthiness and stability of the two-seat design. In a video posted by KAI on 6 March, CJ Kim of the KF-21 project team said flight-testing of prototype No 4 will “determine what impact the two-seat design has on aerodynamics”.

According to DAPA, the fourth prototype conducted its first test flight on 20 February.

The second KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft prototype launches a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile during the aircraft's armament testing flight on 28 March 2023. (DAPA)

In a span of six weeks, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 aircraft programme has progressed from adding a new twin-seat prototype for flight-testing to initiating weapons launching trials using earlier prototypes.

Since the KF-21's first flight in July 2022, four prototypes have conducted more than 150 flight tests, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in March 2023. The programme's pace shows that South Korea is expanding its assessments of the aircraft's broader capabilities.

The introduction of the fourth prototype is enabling DAPA to explore the flight-worthiness and stability of the two-seat design. In a video posted by KAI on 6 March, CJ Kim of the KF-21 project team said flight-testing of prototype No 4 will “determine what impact the two-seat design has on aerodynamics”.

According to DAPA, the fourth prototype conducted its first test flight on 20 February.

The second KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft prototype launches a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile during the aircraft's armament testing flight on 28 March 2023. (DAPA)

In a span of six weeks, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 aircraft programme has progressed from adding a new twin-seat prototype for flight-testing to initiating weapons launching trials using earlier prototypes.

Since the KF-21's first flight in July 2022, four prototypes have conducted more than 150 flight tests, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in March 2023. The programme's pace shows that South Korea is expanding its assessments of the aircraft's broader capabilities.

The introduction of the fourth prototype is enabling DAPA to explore the flight-worthiness and stability of the two-seat design. In a video posted by KAI on 6 March, CJ Kim of the KF-21 project team said flight-testing of prototype No 4 will “determine what impact the two-seat design has on aerodynamics”.

According to DAPA, the fourth prototype conducted its first test flight on 20 February.

The second KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft prototype launches a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile during the aircraft's armament testing flight on 28 March 2023. (DAPA)

In a span of six weeks, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 aircraft programme has progressed from adding a new twin-seat prototype for flight-testing to initiating weapons launching trials using earlier prototypes.

Since the KF-21's first flight in July 2022, four prototypes have conducted more than 150 flight tests, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in March 2023. The programme's pace shows that South Korea is expanding its assessments of the aircraft's broader capabilities.

The introduction of the fourth prototype is enabling DAPA to explore the flight-worthiness and stability of the two-seat design. In a video posted by KAI on 6 March, CJ Kim of the KF-21 project team said flight-testing of prototype No 4 will “determine what impact the two-seat design has on aerodynamics”.

According to DAPA, the fourth prototype conducted its first test flight on 20 February.

The second KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft prototype launches a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile during the aircraft's armament testing flight on 28 March 2023. (DAPA)

In a span of six weeks, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 aircraft programme has progressed from adding a new twin-seat prototype for flight-testing to initiating weapons launching trials using earlier prototypes.

Since the KF-21's first flight in July 2022, four prototypes have conducted more than 150 flight tests, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in March 2023. The programme's pace shows that South Korea is expanding its assessments of the aircraft's broader capabilities.

The introduction of the fourth prototype is enabling DAPA to explore the flight-worthiness and stability of the two-seat design. In a video posted by KAI on 6 March, CJ Kim of the KF-21 project team said flight-testing of prototype No 4 will “determine what impact the two-seat design has on aerodynamics”.

According to DAPA, the fourth prototype conducted its first test flight on 20 February.