Seoul: The state arms procurement agency of South Korea has successfully conducted a safe separation test for a homegrown long-range air-to-surface guided missile under development, officials announced. This significant test was aimed at verifying the missile's ability to detach from an aircraft without compromising safety and functionality and took place at an Air Force unit on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plans to carry out additional tests of the missile using a test FA-50 aircraft before eventually verifying it on a KF-21 prototype, with these trials expected to begin in 2027. The development of long-range guided missiles has been a focus for South Korea since 2018, with the intention of equipping the KF-21 to conduct precision strikes on important enemy targets.
DAPA indicated that the recent test signifies a key milestone in their ongoing project. The agency also expressed optimism that the guided missiles would be exported alongside the KF-21, thereby boosting South Korea's arms exports.