All Republic of Korea Air Force articles
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AnalysisWhich types left use during our latest World Air Forces review?
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2023.
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NewsSouth Korea launches short take-off Gray Eagle UAV from amphibious assault ship
In a first of its kind flight, a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Gray Eagle short take-off and landing uncrewed aircraft has launched from a South Korean amphibious assault ship, the equivalent of a light aircraft carrier
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AnalysisUncertain US defence partners congratulate Donald Trump on election win
With global tensions ranging from simmering to raging, leaders of the USA’s many security partners are lining up to congratulate former American president Donald Trump on re-election to the top office, amid significant uncertainty about his intended security policies.
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NewsUS and South Korea launch 2,000 sorties in ‘largest-ever’ fighter drills
Dubbed Ulchi Freedom Shield, the five-day exercise over the Korean Peninsula includes a staggering 2,000 sorties during 120h of continuous flying.
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NewsKAI kicks off mass production of KF-21 fighter
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has started mass production of the KF-21 fighter, with the first production aircraft set to enter service at the end of 2026.
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NewsSouth Korea approved for $271m purchase of F-35 armaments
Seoul has requested to purchase a suite of air and ground attack munitions for its F-35 fighter fleet, including AMRAAM missiles, JDAM bombs, Paveway II laser-guided bombs and Small Diameter Bomb glide munitions, valued at $271 million by US arms regulators.
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NewsGE Aviation delivers first F414 engine for South Korea’s KF-X fighter
Flight tests on the twin-engined KF-X are planned to start in 2023, with the development programme scheduled to be finished in 2026.
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News
USA clears possible Korean AMRAAM sale
The US State Department has cleared the possible sale of 120 Raytheon AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM missiles to South Korea.
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News
ADEX: Seoul seeks big ISTAR, AEW&C boost
The 2020s will see the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) obtain new aircraft for three emergent requirements.
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News
ADEX: Raytheon, KAL team for Korean ISTAR deal
Raytheon will partner with Korean Air in Seoul's upcoming ISTARS (Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) competition.
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News
ADEX: RoKAF F-35As in show debut amid order talk
The Lockheed Martin F-35A appears likely to secure a 20-aircraft follow up order from Seoul, as the type makes its ADEX debut in the livery of the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).
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News
Seoul to receive four more F-35As, as Tokyo confirms F-35B
South Korea is set to receive four additional Lockheed Martin F-35As, bringing the number of the type on the Korean peninsula to eight.
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News
First ROKAF F-35As arrive in South Korea
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has received a pair of Lockheed Martin F-35As in South Korea.
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News
PICTURE: First Korean A330 MRTT arrives in Busan
The first of for Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) has arrived in South Korea, where it will undergo acceptance tests.
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Analysis
ANALYSIS: Fire and fury, the next Korean air war
A second Korean conflict has never been far from the minds of American and South Korean defence planners. The conflict of 1950-1953, which claimed over 1 million lives, never actually ended: an armistice stopped the fighting, but technically Seoul and Pyongyang are still at war, pending a "final peaceful settlement". ...
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NewsSouth Korea ready to sign F-35 deal
South Korea has finalised its selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35A, with the nation’s air force to receive 40 of the conventional take-off and landing combat aircraft from 2018.
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NewsBoeing offers KC-46 for South Korea tanker requirement
Boeing has submitted its response to a request for proposals to supply South Korea’s first in-flight refuelling capability, pitching the 767-based KC-46 for the four-aircraft deal.
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News
IAI offers 767 conversion for South Korean tanker contest
Israel Aerospace Industries has joined the contest to supply four aerial refueling aircraft to the South Korean air force. The company will compete with Airbus and Boeing for the $1.4 billion contract, offering an advanced version of its Boeing 767-300ER-derived multi-mission tanker transport, using secondhand aircraft.
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NewsLockheed completes C-130J deliveries to Seoul
Lockheed Martin has completed the delivery of C-130J tactical transports to South Korea, under the terms of a four-aircraft contract signed in December 2010.
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NewsSouth Korea accepts new-generation Hercules
Lockheed Martin delivered its first pair of C-130J-30 tactical transport to South Korea’s air force during a ceremony at its Marietta final assembly site in Georgia on 27 March.