South Korea continues to make progress on the KF-21 Boramae program, its new 4.5 Generation fighter. The second prototype of the aircraft took off for the first time on Thursday morning (10). 

The aircraft's flight takes place almost four months after the first flight of the first prototype. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the KF-21 002 took off under the command of a pilot from the 3rd Training Wing at Sacheon Air Base, about 300 km from the capital Seoul. 

A Agency it also says that after the successful flight, of approximately 35 minutes, new tests will be conducted using the two prototypes. “After completing preparations for ground tests and flight tests, Prototype Units 3 to 6 are scheduled to begin flight tests sequentially from late December 22 through the first half of 23”, says DAPA. 

The second prototype has different colors that, according to DAPA, aim at revising the most suitable painting for future production aircraft. Like its predecessor, the jet flew loaded with four Long Range Meteor Missiles, installed in the fuselage. 

🇰🇷Koreańska DAPA ogłosiła sukces pierwszego lotu prototypu KF-21 Boramae Nr 2(002).
Pierwszy lot 002 wystartował at 9:49 i wylądował at 10:24.
Po sukcesie pierwszego lotu nr 2, KF-21 będzie w przyszłości przeprowadzał testy w locie z dwoma samolotami. pic.twitter.com/qdt66d8NUI

— Hyunmin (@HyunminPppp) November 10, 2022

The KF-21 Boramae is the result of the KF-X project, which seeks to develop a domestic fighter to replace the old F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II, in addition to complementing the fleet of F-15K, KF-16 and country's F-35. The program is carried out in conjunction with the Indonesia.

Despite having a similar design to the F-22 and F-35, the KF-21 is not a stealth jet, but a 4.5th Generation like the Dassault Rafale and Sukhoi Su-35. Unlike stealth planes, the Boramae will carry all of its weapons externally, in 10 hardpoints on the wings and fuselage, which logically increases its radar signature.

The first versions, called Block I, will be dedicated to air combat, carrying only air-to-air missiles and their internal cannon. Later, South Korea will evolve the plane, allowing it to receive bombs and missiles for ground attack. 

KAI expects to begin serial production by mid-2026. South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) hopes to have more than 120 units of the new fighter by 2032. The project also has a vital partnership with GE Aviation, responsible for supplying the F414 engines, the same ones used in the SAAB JAS 39E/F Gripen and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and Martin-Baker, which produces the Mk.18 ejection seats.