The heart of the Lugjakkal lies in its twin GE F414 engines, delivering exceptional thrust-to-weight ratio, reliability, and fuel efficiency, giving the aircraft the raw power to dominate both in close-range engagements and sustained high-speed interception missions. This propulsion setup ensures superior climb rate, agility, and payload flexibility — key advantages in Southern Africa’s vast airspaces. The program introduces two specialized variants: the F-122A, a single-seat platform tailored for pure air superiority, with optimized maneuverability and extended-range missile capacity, and the F-122B, a versatile two-seat model built to excel in strike missions, electronic warfare, and SEAD when equipped with the proper sensor and pod systems. Together, the A and B variants create a balanced fleet, enabling South Africa to project both defensive and offensive airpower while retaining adaptability for future mission profiles.

The F-122 Lugjakkal program stands as both a technological leap and an economic driver, benefiting South Africa and Starcrest United alike. Through indigenous production under Denel, the program strengthens South Africa’s aerospace industry, fostering self-reliance while creating thousands of skilled jobs for engineers, technicians, and support staff. At the same time, Starcrest United secures long-term defense contracts, ensuring a flow of expertise, technology transfer, and maintenance partnerships that tie the two industries together. Strategically, the Lugjakkal enhances South Africa’s standing as a regional power, providing a modern deterrent against emerging threats while offering a platform for export and collaboration with other African nations. By blending Starcrest’s cutting-edge design with South African sovereignty in avionics and weapons integration, the F-122 establishes South Africa as not just a buyer, but a partner and a producer in the global defense landscape.