RoKAF will boost F-35A fleet
Already in October 2019, the Republic of Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration earmarked USD 3,4 billion to obtain twenty new F-35 fighter aircraft, on top of the initial order for forty F-35As.
Mid 2020, media reported that the Republic of Korean Government had decided that it would buy twenty F-35B fighters for its FX III programme, to be operated from a newly build aircraft carrier, thus disrupting the plan to obtain additional F-35As.
The plan for F-35Bs now seem to be put on hold as in September 2023, the US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Republic of Korea of F-35A Lightning II and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 5,1 billion. The Republic of Korea has requested to buy up to 25 F-35As, to equip an additional Dae Han Min Guk Gong Gun (RoKAF, Republic of Korea Air Force) squadron at Cheongju. At this air base the 17th Fighter Wing operates the current fleet of forty F-35As, flown by two squadrons, the 151st Fighter Squadron and the 152nd Fighter Squadron.
The new squadron could be 156th Fighter Squadron, a former Phantom equipped unit or the last squadron which still operates the F-4E, Suwon based 153rd Fighter Squadron. That unit is slated to retire its last Phantoms in 2024.
Credit photo: Rob van Disseldorp (via airhistory.net)