Cheap. Effective. Deadly.

That's the core concept of this aircraft. A cheap, light attack aircraft, the Kestrel was introduced in 1974 by Starcrest United as a light attack fighter to supplement the SCF-46 Valiant during the Vietnam War. Designed with a high thrust-to-weight ratio and a single engine for ease of maintenance, the Kestrel offered supersonic performance in a compact, cost-effective package. Its agility and low operating costs made it ideal for close air support and interdiction missions in rugged environments where heavier platforms struggled. The aircraft quickly gained traction on the export market, becoming a staple in the air forces of Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. Its success abroad was driven not only by its affordability and reliability, but also by its adaptability to a wide range of mission profiles, from counterinsurgency to border patrol. The Kestrel’s legacy is one of pragmatic design meeting global demand, a fighter that proved you didn’t need to be expensive to be effective.