South Korea to get 20 F-35 stealth fighter jets from US

Asia-Pacific, News, US January 4, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced its decision to purchase 20 additional F-35A fighter jets from the United States. The U.S. State Department had approved Seoul’s request to purchase one of the most advanced stealth aircraft last year.

After attaining necessary approvals from the U.S. State Department and other authorized institutions, DAPA signed a contract with the U.S. aerospace company Lockheed Martin. The overall acquisition cost has been determined around $5.1 billion and the deliveries are set to begin in 2027.

South Korea plans to replace its fleet of McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter jets with the U.S.-made F-35A stealth fighters. Seoul is also considering buying the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing variant to equip its planned aircraft carrier.

South Korean Defense Ministry indicated last year that it is looking at the feasibility of building a 50,000-ton aircraft carrier. If the plans go through, South Korea will acquire more fighter jets from the U.S., particularly F-35B fighter jets.

Seoul currently operates 39 of the 40 F-35A jets that were acquired in 2014. One of the 40 fighter jets was grounded after sustaining damages in an accident last year.

DAPA highlighted in its statement that the newly acquired fleet of 20 F-35A jets would have superior weapons operation and enhanced security features compared to the earlier versions.

^{U.S. B-52H bombers, center, F-16 fighter jets, top, and South Korean F-35A fighter jets, bottom right, fly over the Korean Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea on April 14, 2023. (Image Credit: South Korea Defense Ministry)}

Technically at war

South Korea is technically still at war with its nuclear-armed neighbor North Korea, as the two countries have not signed a formal peace treaty following the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War.

Seoul is enhancing its military capability in the wake of North Korea’s increasing military threats. The procurement of additional fighter jets is also an effort to enhance the country’s aerial strike and defense capabilities.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to strengthen the country’s preemptive strike, missile defense, and retaliatory capabilities in response to the North Korean nuclear threat.

In the New Year’s address to his top military leadership, North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un ordered to “thoroughly annihilate” South Korea and the United States if they initiate a military confrontation with North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim also laid out his military ambitions and plans for the year 2024 as he announced that North Korea will launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials, and develop attack drones this year in what observers say is an attempt to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the U.S.

North Korea Hwasong-18 ICBM launch — *^{Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s strategic force conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile “Hwasongpo-18” launch exercise on December 18, 2023. (Image Credit: KCNA)}*

South Korea’s Defense Ministry responded to Kim’s fierce comments by releasing a statement and warning North Korea that if any attempts were made to use nuclear weapons, South Korean and U.S. forces would punish it overwhelmingly, resulting in the end of the Kim government.