S. Korea test-runs new supersonic fighter jet

South Korea has test-run the domestically developed supersonic fighter jet FA-50. The jet can travel one-point-five times faster than the speed of sound and is capable of flying two-thousand kilometers when carrying four-point-five tons of arms. Equipped with a state-of-the-art engine, the new plane’s mobility is as good as that of the U.S. F-16 multirole fighter in an air battle, South Korean Radio KBS World reported. The attacker can carry short-range missiles and Vulcan cannons as well as most bombs used by the South Korean Air Force. Its precision guided munitions are able to respond to North Korea’s long-range artillery guns from a 24-kilometer distance. The military will introduce some 60 FA-50 attackers starting in 2013 to replace aged F-5 fighter jets, which will be decommissioned.