KF-21 prototype successfully conducts 1st aerial refueling test

fighter jet-aerial refueling

SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s homegrown fighter jet under development successfully underwent its first aerial refueling test Tuesday, the state arms procurement agency said, in a major step to vet the advanced fighter’s capabilities for extended-range operations.

The Air Force’s KC-330 tanker aircraft refueled the KF-21 prototype over waters off the southern coast after the fighter took off from an air base in Sacheon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

During the test, the tanker connected its flying boom to the KF-21 prototype No. 5 to transfer the fuel, DAPA said, noting that a single refueling session is expected to extend the aircraft’s operational range by at least 50 percent.

“Aerial refueling is an essential capability for modern fighter jets,” DAPA said in a release. “It can expand the KF-21’s operational range and time to maximize the Air Force’s combat capabilities, such as in long-range missions.”

DAPA said it plans to continue testing the KF-21’s aerial refueling capabilities at various flight altitudes and speeds.

South Korea launched the development project for the KF-21 in 2015 jointly with Indonesia to develop a supersonic fighter to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets.

A total of six prototypes have been built, with the first production model scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force in the second half of 2026.

The fifth prototype of the homegrown KF-21 fighter jet under development is seen flying over waters off the southern coast on May 16, 2023, in this file photo provided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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