South Korea’s homegrown jet passes first test

SEOUL: South Korea’s domestically developed fighter jet successfully completed its first test flight, a defence agency said, amid a push to replace ageing military jets in the face of nuclear and missile threats from neighbouring North Korea.

The next-generation aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries in a project partially backed by Indonesia is designed to be a cheaper, less stealthy alternative to the US-built F-35, on which South Korea relies.