Colonel Pnb Ferrel Rigonald of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) has successfully completed a test flight aboard the KF-21 fighter aircraft, marking the first time an Indonesian pilot has flown the next-generation multirole jet.
The flight took place from Sacheon Air Base, with Colonel Rigonald piloting from the front cockpit and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) test pilot Koh Hwi Seok occupying the rear seat. The aircraft departed at 09:45 local time and conducted a series of flight maneuvers at an altitude of 20,000 feet. The sortie lasted approximately one hour and concluded without incident.
This milestone reflects Indonesia’s technical integration into the KF-21 development program, with direct pilot involvement in flight testing procedures. Colonel Rigonald’s participation supports ongoing efforts to develop operational familiarity with the platform and strengthen advanced flight training capabilities.
The inclusion of a TNI AU pilot in this phase also contributes to the long-term goal of cultivating indigenous expertise in operating and sustaining high-performance combat aircraft.
