In a move that underscores confidence in the KF-21 and signals ambitions for the export market, Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Lee Young-soo, recently took to the skies in the indigenous supersonic fighter. The flight, conducted from Sacheon Air Base, saw Lee soaring over the South Sea at speeds exceeding 500 kts and altitudes of approximately 15,000 ft.
Paired with test pilot Major Woo Hong-kyun, the RoKAF Chief assessed the KF-21’s operational capabilities, flying alongside a F-16 to evaluate its tactical integration with the air force’s current mainstay fighter. The flight also served as an opportunity to check the performance of the domestically produced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
Lee’s flight marks the first time someone other than a test pilot has flown in the KF-21, a clear message from the RoKAF on its confidence with the fighter. A seasoned aviator with experience piloting F-5, F-16, and F-15K aircraft, Lee also has a history with the F-15K, having piloted the first delivery from the United States to South Korea in 2005.
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