A prototype of the South Korean KF-21 Boramae fighter aircraft has successfully completed a test flight with an advanced active phased array radar (AESA) installed, Yonhap news agency reported on March 4.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Office (DAPA), the third prototype took off from the 3rd Air Force Flight Training Wing in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, at 10:00 a.m. and made an 84-minute flight.

The third prototype made its successful maiden flight in January. The first and second prototypes of the KF-21 made their first flights in July and November last year, respectively.

In January, the fourth two-seat prototype made its first flight.

The agency said it plans to start testing two more prototypes in the first half of the year, in line with a plan to conduct a total of about 2 test flights by February 000.

Launched in 2015, the 21 trillion won KF-8,8 project aims to develop a supersonic fighter to replace South Korea's aging fleet of F-515 and F-4 jet aircraft.

The first KF-21 prototype reached supersonic speed for the first time in a test flight last month.