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<p class="text-body text-muted small">The KF-21 prototype No 6 will not only assist with the training of additional pilots but also augment the ongoing testing of weapons and avionics, as well as assist with the validation of dual-cockpit design. (DAPA)</p>
<p>The sixth and final prototype of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 has conducted its first flight test.</p>
<p>On 28 June South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said that the prototype successfully took off from the 3rd Flying Training Wing (at Sacheon). According to DAPA, it then conducted a 33-minute test flight before returning to Sacheon at 1622 h local time.</p>
<p>This is the second prototype with a dual-cockpit configuration. An earlier dual-cockpit prototype (KF-21 No 4) flew for the first time on 20 February.</p>
<p>According to DAPA, the sixth prototype will continue ongoing assessments of the two-seat design and its effect on flight characteristics. <em>Janes </em>has previously reported that the two-seat versions of the KF-21 differ from the single-seat versions in having changes to the internal components due to the addition of the rear cockpit.</p>
<p>“Like with the existing prototypes, [the sixth prototype] will test pilot stability, expansion of the flight range, and avionics, including active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar,” DAPA said.</p>
<p>“It will conduct performance verification of electronic equipment and conduct armament tests,” the agency added.</p>
<p>An image of prototype No 6’s flight test released by DAPA appears to show that the aircraft was armed with at least two MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs) in its semi-recessed ventral weapons area.</p>
<p><em>Janes </em>assesses that prototype No 6 will also integrate an infrared search and track (IRST) system, plus navigation and attack systems, to further test the flight capabilities of the aircraft.</p>
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