[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence photo] KF-21 Supersonic Flight Moment

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] The domestically produced fighter jet 'Boramae' (KF-21) prototype No. 1 successfully completed its historic first supersonic flight on the 17th. It is the first aircraft with an independently developed shape using domestic technology to break the sound barrier. The KF-21 prototype No. 1 took off at 2:58 PM from the Air Force 3rd Training Flight Group (Sacheon) and flew over the South Sea at an altitude of about 40,000 ft (approximately 12,200 m), breaking the sound barrier (Mach 1.0, about 1,224 km/h). This aircraft, developed as a supersonic fighter, broke the sound barrier for the first time on this day. All three attempts at supersonic flight during this flight were successful. The prototype No. 1 completed a 56-minute flight and landed at 3:54 PM.

There is a past case of the domestically produced supersonic advanced trainer T-50 (Golden Eagle) breaking the sound barrier (in 2003), but the T-50 was developed through technological cooperation with the United States.

When an aircraft breaks Mach 1.0, shock waves occur on the wings and other parts of the airframe due to air resistance, and the surrounding airflow becomes unstable, which can have a significant impact on the structural integrity of the aircraft. Going forward, the KF-21 will increase altitude and speed in the supersonic range, check and verify flight stability in the supersonic section, and continuously reflect this in system development. If the test flights proceed smoothly, the next task will be the provisional combat suitability evaluation.

According to KAI, the KF-21 is equipped with twin engines and incorporates low-observable (stealth) technology. It has a fuselage length of 16.9 m, a wingspan of 11.2 m, and a height of 4.7 m, making it larger than the F-16 fighter and similar in size to the F-18 fighter. Its maximum speed is Mach 1.81 (2,200 km/h), its range is 2,900 km, and its weapons payload capacity is 7.7 tons.

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