The South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) may receive reinforcements in its fleet of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters. The subcommittee of the South Korean Defense Project Promotion Committee approved the purchase of 20 more planes. If the contract, valued at 3,9 trillion won (US$3 billion), is signed later this year, ROKAF could receive its new planes from 2023.
The subcommittee approved the purchase of F-35 fighters on June 09, observes the South Korean news agency Yonhap citing government officials. The country is evaluating the purchase of more F-35As since 2017, as well as the acquisition of the F-35B, of vertical landing and takeoff, capable of operating on the country's amphibious landing ships.
The green light to buy more stealth fighter jets comes as conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol strives to bolster defense capabilities to counter North Korea's growing nuclear threats.
ROKAF ed the F-35 program in 2013 with the purchase of 40 aircraft. The delivery of this first batch was concluded this year. The F-35 will operate alongside the KF-21 Boramae, a 4.5 Generation fighter developed in the country.
Despite not being a 5th Generation aircraft like the F-35, the KF-21 has stealth characteristics and can evolve to this level in the coming years. The first KF-21 is due to fly in 2022 and its introduction to active service is scheduled for 2026.
According to the South Korea Herald, the country's military is expected to receive the new batch of US-made stealth fighter jets in the mid-2020s, shortly before starting the full acquisition of the domestic aircraft.
