Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force was founded on 1 October 1949 with about twenty light aircraft, went to war nine months later in borrowed F-51 Mustangs, and grew on American aid and American designs into an air force of some 65,000 people and around 700 aircraft — and in September 2026, two years after retiring its last F-4 Phantom, it inducted the first KF-21 Boramae, the first fighter designed and built in South Korea.
The Republic of Korea Air Force story: ten borrowed Mustangs, Phantoms for 55 years and the KF-21 Boramae
1948–1953: seven founders, ten Mustangs and a war
Korean military flying began in exile: in 1920 independence activists trained at a flying school in Willows, California, according to Korean Wikipedia and Namuwiki. The service itself grew out of an aviation unit formed within the constabulary on 5 May 1948 and became an independent air force on 1 October 1949 under its first chief of staff, Kim Jeong-ryeol, one of seven founding officers. It had about 1,600 people and some 20 liaison and training aircraft. When North Korea attacked on 25 June 1950 it had no combat aircraft at all. Ten F-51D Mustangs arrived from the US Far East Air Forces in early July; Colonel Lee Keun-seok led the first sortie on 3 July and was killed the next day in a dive over Anyang, according to Korean Wikipedia. By the armistice of 27 July 1953 the service had about 110 aircraft, 79 of them fighter-bombers.
1953–1980: Sabres, Phantoms and Freedom Fighters
The American instructors of Project Bout One, led by Major Dean Hess, taught Korean pilots on the Mustang while flying combat themselves; HistoryNet says seven of the ten American volunteers were killed in the first year, and that the ROKAF was autonomous from the USAF by January 1952. After the war the United States equipped it as a front-line ally: 112 F-86F Sabres and 10 RF-86Fs from 20 June 1955, and 40 F-86D all-weather interceptors, by Wikipedia’s count. F-5A/B Freedom Fighters followed in 1965, and in 1969, under Peace Spectator, the first F-4D Phantoms arrived — 92 in all, according to The Aviationist, followed by 94 F-4Es from 1977. F-5Es came in August 1974. A C-46 transport unit, the Eunma, flew for Korean forces in Vietnam from 1966.
1981–2005: Peace Bridge and an aircraft industry of its own
In 1981 the ROKAF ordered 36 F-16C/D Block 32s, later 40, and so became the first operator of the C/D model outside the United States. The larger Korean Fighter Program went, after a false start with the F/A-18, to 120 F-16C/D Block 52s, the KF-16: 12 built at Fort Worth, 36 assembled from kits and 72 built in Korea, followed in 2000 by 20 more. That industrial ladder mattered as much as the aircraft. Korean Air had already licence-built 68 F-5E/Fs, the Jegong-ho, from 1982 to 1986. Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) KT-1 Woongbi basic trainer reached the ROKAF in 2000, and the supersonic T-50 Golden Eagle first flew on 20 August 2002. In 1997 women were admitted to the Air Force Academy for the first time.
2005–2022: Slam Eagles, Golden Eagles and a stealth buy
The F-X competition brought the F-15K Slam Eagle: 40 from 2005 and 21 more ordered in 2008, of which 59 remain after two crashes. The T-50 entered service on 22 February 2005 and spawned the TA-50 lead-in fighter trainer and the FA-50 light fighter, 60 of which were built for the ROKAF between 2013 and 2016. Four E-737 Peace Eye early-warning aircraft arrived in 2011–2012, four KC-330 Cygnus tankers in 2018–2019 and four RQ-4 Global Hawks after a 2014 contract. The second F-X round chose the F-35A: the first reached Cheongju on 29 March 2019, 40 were bought for about 7.4 trillion won, and 20 more were approved on 4 December 2023. Meanwhile the KF-X project, launched in 2015 with Indonesia as a 20 per cent partner, produced the KF-21 Boramae, which first flew on 19 July 2022.
Drones, shells and bombs in the wrong place: the hard lessons
An air force built to win a short, intense war over the peninsula has struggled with smaller problems. When North Korean artillery shelled Yeonpyeong Island on 23 November 2010, killing two marines and two civilians by South Korea’s count, KF-16s and F-15Ks were scrambled but did not strike. On 26 December 2022 five small North Korean drones crossed the border and flew for about five hours; fighters, attack helicopters and a KA-1 that crashed on take-off failed to bring any down, and on 5 January 2023 the Joint Chiefs of Staff admitted one had entered the no-fly zone around the presidential office. On 6 March 2025 two KF-16s released eight Mk 82 bombs on a village in Pocheon after a pilot entered the wrong coordinates; 52 people were eventually reported hurt, and two pilots and two commanders were charged.
2024–2026: the Phantom goes and the Boramae arrives
The last F-4E Phantoms flew their farewell at Suwon on 7 June 2024, 55 years after the first F-4D arrived. In their place came the KF-21: its test programme finished in January 2026 after about 1,600 sorties without an accident, the first production aircraft rolled out at Sacheon in March, and on 22 September 2026 the first was handed to the 156th Fighter Squadron of the 16th Fighter Wing at Yecheon — a squadron that had flown Phantoms. Forty Block I aircraft are due by 2028 and 80 Block IIs by 2032. The F-15K is being upgraded to F-15EX standard under a 2.8 billion dollar contract of January 2026, a Global 6500 early-warning aircraft was chosen over more E-7s, and the 2027 budget proposal of 73.28 trillion won raises KF-21 funding almost two and a half times. What still lags is the old KF-5 fleet, which the KF-21 is meant to replace.
The Republic of Korea Air Force in numbers
Dienst
- Inheemse naam
- 대한민국 공군 (Daehanminguk Gonggun)The Korean name as given on Korean Wikipedia and Namuwiki; the service’s own site, airforce.mil.kr, could not be reached to check its spelling. The short form is Gonggun (공군)
- Opgericht
- 1 October 1949Became independent of the army on that date, the day now kept as Armed Forces Day. It grew from an aviation unit formed on 5 May 1948
- Onderdeel van
- Republic of Korea Armed ForcesUnder the Ministry of National Defense and, operationally, the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Minister of National Defense in 2026 is Ahn Gyu-back
- Hoofdkwartier
- Gyeryongdae, GyeryongThe tri-service headquarters complex at Sindoan-myeon, Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province
- stafchef
- Gen. Son Sug-ragThe 42nd chief, in office since 3 September 2025 according to Namuwiki; also romanised Sohn Seok-lak
- First chief of staff
- Kim Jeong-ryeol1 October 1949 to 1 December 1952, one of the seven founding officers
Kracht
- Personeel
- About 65,000Wikipedia’s figure for 2022, citing the 2022 Defence White Paper; Namuwiki gives 64,000 for 2025 (11,500 officers, 19,100 NCOs and 33,400 enlisted). The White Paper itself could not be read in full
- Vliegtuig
- About 700–730Wikipedia gives 720 aircraft; Namuwiki about 730 for 2025. No official figure was reached
- Gevechtsvliegtuigen
-
- KF-16C/D and F-16C/D — about 167
- F-15K Slam Eagle — 59
- KF-5E/F and F-5E/F — about 61
- FA-50 — 60
- F-35A — 39 or 40 (20 more ordered)
- KF-21 Boramae — first delivered 22 September 2026
Numbers from Wikipedia’s inventory table unless stated; the ROKAF does not publish a type-by-type count on a page that could be reached
- Ondersteunende vliegtuigen
-
- E-737 Peace Eye — 4
- KC-330 Cygnus tanker — 4
- C-130H/J Hercules — 12 + 4
- CN-235 — 18
- RQ-4B Global Hawk — 4
E-737 is the Korean name for the E-7A Wedgetail; four Global 6500 early-warning aircraft are on order
- Trainers
-
- KT-1 Woongbi and KA-1 — 105 built for the ROKAF
- T-50, TA-50 and T-50B — about 80–100
- KT-100 — 23
KT-1 and KA-1 numbers from Wikipedia’s KT-1 article; T-50 family numbers differ between Wikipedia articles (see fleet)
- Defensiebudget
- 73.28 trillion won proposed for 2027Up 8.2 per cent; KF-21 funding rises almost 2.5 times to 3.3 trillion won, according to Defense News. This is the whole defence budget, not the air force’s share
Infrastructuur
- Gevechtsvleugels
- Ten1st (Gwangju), 8th (Wonju), 10th (Suwon), 11th (Daegu), 16th (Yecheon), 17th (Cheongju), 18th (Gangneung), 19th (Chungju), 20th (Seosan) and the 38th Fighter Group (Gunsan), per Wikipedia
- Other flying wings
-
- 3rd Flight Training Wing — Sacheon
- 5th Air Mobility Wing — Gimhae
- 15th Special Missions Wing — Seongnam
- 39th Reconnaissance Wing — Chungju
- 51st Air Control Group — Gimhae (E-737)
Volgens Wikipedia
- Shared with the USAF
- Osan and KunsanUS Seventh Air Force flies from both. Gwangju, home of the ROKAF 1st Fighter Wing, is also a commercial airport shared by the US and South Korean air forces
- Base moving
- Gwangju to MuanOn 28 August 2026 a ministry committee chose Muan County for the 1st Fighter Wing’s new airfield; the president wants the move by mid-2028
- Displayteam
- Black Eagles53rd Air Demonstration Group, eight T-50B in the display (ten on strength). Flew in Poland in July 2022 and at the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia in February 2026
- Air defence identification zone
- KADIZNot territorial airspace; Chinese and Russian bombers have flown joint patrols through it, most recently reported on 9 December 2025
How the Republic of Korea Air Force is organised
A chief of staff at Gyeryongdae and the Air Force Operations Command at Osan over ten fighter wings and groups, an air mobility wing, a flying training wing, special missions and reconnaissance wings and an air control group. The F-15K flies from Daegu, the F-35A from Cheongju, the KF-16 from Jungwon, Seosan and Kunsan, and since September 2026 the KF-21 from Yecheon. Osan and Kunsan are shared with the US Air Force; the Korean War ended with the armistice of 27 July 1953, not a peace treaty.
Chief of Staff of the Air Force
At Gyeryongdae, the tri-service headquarters complex in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, under the Ministry of National Defense and, operationally, the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Son Sug-rag, also romanised Sohn Seok-lak, became the 42nd chief of staff on 3 September 2025, according to Namuwiki; the official site could not be reached to confirm it.
Air Force Operations Command
Headquartered at Osan, per Wikipedia, on the base it shares with the US Seventh Air Force and 51st Fighter Wing; no ROKAF flying unit at Osan was confirmed.
11th and 17th Fighter Wings
All 59 F-15K Slam Eagles fly with the 11th Fighter Wing’s 102nd, 110th and 122nd Squadrons at Daegu; the F-35As with the 17th Fighter Wing’s 151st and 152nd Squadrons at Cheongju, the first of them since 29 March 2019.
19th and 20th Fighter Wings and 38th Fighter Group
The KF-16 and F-16 wings: the 19th at Jungwon near Chungju, the 20th at Seosan, and the 38th Fighter Group, which shares Kunsan with the US Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing.
16th Fighter Wing
TA-50s and FA-50s at Yecheon, where the reactivated 156th Fighter Squadron received the first production KF-21 Boramae on 22 September 2026, the first fighter designed and built in South Korea.
1st, 8th, 10th and 18th Fighter Wings
T-50s with the 1st at Gwangju, which is to move to Muan County by mid-2028; FA-50s and KA-1s with the 8th at Wonju, home of the Black Eagles display team; KF-5 Tiger IIs, which the KF-21 is meant to replace, with the 10th at Suwon and the 18th at Gangneung.
5th Air Mobility Wing and 51st Air Control Group
C-130 and CN-235 transports, KC-330 Cygnus tankers and the four E-737 Peace Eye early warning aircraft at Gimhae in Busan.
3rd Flying Training Wing
Basic flight training on the KT-1 Woongbi at Sacheon, beside the Korea Aerospace Industries factory that builds the T-50 and the KF-21.
15th Special Missions Wing and 39th Reconnaissance Wing
Presidential and VIP flights from Seoul Air Base at Seongnam, the venue of the Seoul ADEX air show; RF-16s and RC-800s with the 39th Reconnaissance Wing, which Wikipedia places at Chungju.
What the Republic of Korea Air Force flies today
Elk type is gekoppeld aan de bijbehorende pagina in het Boek der Beesten, indien aanwezig. Het aantal vliegtuigen betreft de geregistreerde vliegtuigen, niet de vliegtuigen die op een bepaalde dag beschikbaar zijn.
| Type | Rol | In dienst | Sinds | Eenheden | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIIn dienst | Stealth multirole gevechtsvliegtuig | 39 | 2019 | — | 40 bought under the second F-X round; one was retired in late 2023 after an eagle strike forced a gear-up landing at Seosan on 4 January 2022. Wikipedia still lists 40.
Meer20 more approved on 4 December 2023; how many of those had arrived by September 2026 was not confirmed. |
|
| Boeing F-15K Slam EagleIn dienst | Strike fighter | 59 | 2005 | — | 61 delivered (40 from 2005, 21 ordered on 25 April 2008); two lost in crashes. | |
| Lockheed Martin KF-16C/D and F-16C/D Fighting FalconIn dienst | Multifunctionele gevechtsvliegtuig | 167 | — | Wikipedia lists 118 KF-16C/U and 49 KF-16D; Korean Wikipedia gives 134 KF-16s and 34 F-16C/D Block 32s.
Meer180 were delivered: 40 Block 32s (Peace Bridge I) and 140 Block 52 KF-16s (120 under Peace Bridge II, 20 in 2000). An F-16C was lost near Yeongju on 25 February 2026. |
||
| Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II and KF-5E/F Jegong-hoIn dienst | Light fighter | 61 | 1974 | — | Wikipedia’s table gives 61; Korean Wikipedia gives about 100, a figure that appears to predate recent retirements. Korean Air licence-built 68 as the KF-5 from 1982 to 1986. | |
| KAI FA-50 Fighting EagleIn dienst | Light fighter | 60 | 2013 | — | 60 built for the ROKAF between 2013 and 2016. | |
| KAI KF-21 BoramaeIn dienst | Multifunctionele gevechtsvliegtuig | 1 | 2026 | — | The first production aircraft was handed over on 22 September 2026. 40 Block I ordered (20 in June 2024, 20 in 2025) for delivery by 2028; 80 Block II planned by 2032. | |
| KAI T-50, TA-50 and T-50B Golden EagleIn dienst | Advanced and lead-in fighter trainer, aerobatics | — | 2005 | — | Contested: Wikipedia’s T-50 article gives 50 T-50, 22 TA-50 and 10 T-50B in October 2016; its ROKAF article lists 72 T-50, 22 TA-50 and 10 T-50B. Neither figure was confirmed officially. | |
| KAI KT-1 Woongbi and KA-1In dienst | Basic trainer and light attack | 105 | 2000 | — | 85 KT-1 and 20 KA-1 built for the ROKAF; at least three lost (2003, two in a collision on 1 April 2022) and a KA-1 on 26 December 2022. | |
| KAI KT-100 (KC-100 Naraon)In dienst | Hoofdtrainer | 23 | 2016 | — | 23 ordered in May 2014 for the Air Force Academy. | |
| Boeing E-737 Peace Eye (E-7A Wedgetail)In dienst | Luchtgebaseerde vroegtijdige waarschuwing en controle | 4 | 2011 | — | Four, delivered 2011–2012. | |
| Airbus KC-330 Cygnus (A330 MRTT)In dienst | Tanker en transport | 4 | 2018 | — | Four, selected 30 June 2015; the first arrived on 12 November 2018. | |
| Lockheed C-130H and C-130J-30 HerculesIn dienst | Tactisch transport | 16 | — | 12 C-130H and 4 C-130J, per Wikipedia. | ||
| CASA/IPTN CN-235In dienst | Licht transport | 18 | — | 18, per Wikipedia and Korean Wikipedia. | ||
| Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global HawkIn dienst | High-altitude surveillance drone | 4 | — | Four, contracted in 2014. | ||
| Raytheon Hawker 800 (RC-800)In dienst | Signalen en beeldanalyse | 8 | — | Eight, per Wikipedia. | ||
| Dassault Falcon 2000 (reconnaissance)In dienst | Signaalintelligentie | 2 | — | Two, per Wikipedia. | ||
| Boeing 747-8I and 737 (VIP)In dienst | Presidentieel transport | 2 | — | One 747-8I and one 737, per Wikipedia. | ||
| Sikorsky HH-60P (S-70)In dienst | Zoek- en reddingsoperaties in gevechtssituaties | 17 | — | 17, per Wikipedia. | ||
| Boeing HH-47D ChinookIn dienst | Heavy transport and rescue | 9 | — | Nine, per Wikipedia. | ||
| Sikorsky S-92, Aerospatiale AS332 Super Puma and Bell 412In dienst | VIP and utility helicopters | 9 | — | Three of each, per Wikipedia. |
Op bestelling
| Type | Besteld | Eerste levering | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAI KF-21 Boramae Block I and IIOp bestelling | 119 | 2026 | 120 planned: 40 Block I by 2028 (the first delivered on 22 September 2026) and 80 Block II, with more air-to-ground capability, by 2032. The first 20 Block I cost 1.9 trillion won.
MeerKF-21 funding in the 2027 budget proposal is 3.3 trillion won. |
|
| Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIOp bestelling | 20 | Approved by DAPA’s Defence Project Promotion Committee on 4 December 2023, 4.26 trillion won, for delivery to 2028. How many had been delivered by September 2026 was not confirmed. | ||
| Bombardier Global 6500 AEW&C (L3Harris, IAI radar)Op bestelling | 4 | AEW&C II: contract of 20 October 2025, about 2.6 billion dollars, delivery by 2032. Korean Air co-develops the first two and modifies the other two in Korea.
MeerChosen instead of four more E-7s. |
||
| Embraer C-390 MillenniumOp bestelling | 3 | Selected by DAPA in December 2023 (budget 710 billion won) over the C-130J and A400M; The Aviationist expected two or three, Wikipedia gives three. Delivery date not confirmed. |
Every type the Republic of Korea Air Force has retired
12 types, from the Piper L-4 Grasshopper and other liaison aircraft to the Kamov Ka-32 (HH-32). De piekcijfers hebben betrekking op het aantal vliegtuigen dat gedurende de gehele levensduur in gebruik is genomen, niet op de vlootsterkte op een bepaalde datum.
| Type | Rol | Piek | Geserveerd | Vervangen door | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamov Ka-32 (HH-32) | Zoek- en reddingshelikopter | — | 1991–2025 | — | Aantal niet bevestigd. | |
| McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II | Jachtbommenwerper | 94 | 1977–2024 | F-35A, KF-21 | 94 received, per The Aviationist. | |
| McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II | Verkenning | 27 | 1989–2014 | — | 27: 12 in 1989–1990 and 15 later, per The Aviationist. | |
| McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II | Jachtbommenwerper | 92 | 1969–2010 | — | 92 in all: six in 1969 under Peace Spectator, 18 in 1972 and more from 1975, per The Aviationist. | |
| Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter | Light fighter | — | 1965–2007 | F-15K, FA-50 | Wikipedia says the last 60 were retired in August 2007; the number delivered from 1965 was not confirmed. | |
| Cessna A-37B Dragonfly | Light attack; aerobatics | — | — | T-50B (Black Eagles) | Aantal niet bevestigd. | |
| North American F-86F and RF-86F Sabre | Dagjager en verkenningsvliegtuig | 122 | 1955–1990 | — | 112 F-86F and 10 RF-86F, per Wikipedia. | |
| North American F-86D Sabre | Onderscheppingsvoertuig voor alle weersomstandigheden | 40 | — | — | 40, per Wikipedia’s F-86D article. | |
| North American F-51D Mustang | Jachtbommenwerper | — | 1950– | F-86F | Ten in the first batch in July 1950; the total received was not confirmed. The service had 79 fighter-bombers at the armistice, most of them Mustangs. | |
| Ilyushin Il-103 (T-103) | Hoofdtrainer | 20 | — | KT-100 | 20 at the Air Force Academy, per Wikipedia’s KC-100 article. | |
| Curtiss C-46 Commando | Vervoer | — | — | — | Aantal niet bevestigd. | |
| Piper L-4 Grasshopper and other liaison aircraft | Contacten leggen en training | 20 | 1948– | — | About 20 liaison aircraft in 1949, including ten L-4s; sources differ on the date the L-4s were given (1948 or 13 September 1949). |
Where the Republic of Korea Air Force flies from
Zwarte pinnen geven actieve bases aan, holle pinnen de vliegvelden die gesloten zijn. Many ROKAF bases share their runways with civil airports, and Osan and Kunsan are US Air Force bases with a Korean headquarters and a Korean fighter group on them; Gwangju is to make way for a new airfield in Muan County, with a target of mid-2028. Yeouido in Seoul, closed in February 1971, is now a business district and park. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.
| Baseren | ICAO | Status | Startbaan | Eenheden en vliegtuigen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CheongjuNorth Chungcheong Province (Chungcheongbuk-do), Cheongju | RKTU | Actief | 06L/24R2.744 mconcreet06R/24L2.744 mbeton en asfalt |
|
| DaeguDaegu Metropolitan City (Dong-gu) | RKTN | Actief | 13R/31L2.755 mconcreet13L/31R2.743 mconcreet |
|
| GangneungGangwon Province, Gangneung | RKNN | Actief | 08/262.743 mconcreet |
|
| GimhaeBusan Metropolitan City (Gangseo-gu) | RKPK | Actief | 18R/36L3200 mconcreet18L/36R2.743 mconcreet |
|
| GwangjuGwangju Metropolitan City (Gwangsan-gu) | RKJJ | Actief | 04R/22L2,835 mconcreet04L/22R2,835 mconcreet |
|
| JungwonNorth Chungcheong Province (Chungcheongbuk-do), Chungju | RKTI | Actief | — |
|
| KunsanNorth Jeolla Province (Jeonbuk), Gunsan | RKJK | Actief | 18/362,746 mconcreet |
|
| OsanGyeonggi Province, Pyeongtaek | RKSO | Actief | 09L/27R2.740 mconcreet09R/27L2.740 mconcreet |
|
| SacheonSouth Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangnam-do), Sacheon | RKPS | Actief | 06R/24L2.743 mconcreet06L/24R2.743 m |
|
| SeosanSouth Chungcheong Province (Chungcheongnam-do), Seosan | RKTP | Actief | 03R/21L2.743 mconcreet03L/21R2.743 mconcreet |
|
| SeoulGyeonggi Province, Seongnam | RKSM | Actief | 01/192.743 mconcreet02/202,957 mconcreet |
|
| SuwonGyeonggi Province, Suwon | RKSW | Actief | 15L/33R2.743 mconcreet15R/33L2.743 mconcreet16/342,297 mconcreet |
|
| WonjuGangwon Province (Hoengseong County) | RKNW | Actief | 03/212.743 mconcreet |
|
| YecheonNorth Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangbuk-do), Yecheon | RKTY | Actief | 10/282.743 mconcreet |
|
| YeouidoSeoul (Yeongdeungpo-gu) | Gesloten in 1971. | — |
|
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Who is stationed where in the Republic of Korea Air Force
Vliegende eenheden per basis, met de huidige eenheden eerst. ROKAF fighter squadrons carry three-digit numbers under numbered wings, and a squadron can outlive its aircraft: the 156th flew Phantoms at Cheongju and now flies the KF-21 at Yecheon. American units that flew from the same fields are listed too, each marked as such.
- 102nd Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle
- 110th Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle
- 122e JachtvliegtuigeskaderJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle
- 11th Fighter Wing F-4D Phantom squadrons1969–2010
- McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II
- Bout One (F-51 training detachment, USAF and ROKAF)1950–1950
- North American F-51D Mustang
- 49th Fighter-Bomber Group, USAF1950–
- Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
- 151st Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
- 152e JachtvliegtuigeskaderJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II (from November 1979)
- 29th Tactical Development Training GroupWeapons school and aggressor group · active
- Vliegtuigtypen niet bevestigd
- 153rd, 155th, 156th and 157th Fighter Squadrons (F-4E era)1980–
- McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II
- 122nd Fighter Squadron (F-5 era)1979–
- Northrop F-5
- 3rd Flying Training Wing (213th–217th and 236th Flight Training Squadrons)Vliegopleidingsvleugel · actief
- KAI KT-1 Woongbi
- 281st Flight Test Squadron, Air Force Test and Evaluation WingFlight test squadron · active
- Vliegtuigtypen niet bevestigd
- 10th Fighter Wing (formation)1951–
- —
- 1e JachtvleugelFighter wing (advanced jet training) · active
- KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
- 8th Materiel Maintenance Squadron, Detachment 1 (USAF)Maintenance detachment · allied
- —
- 8e JachtvleugelJachtvleugel · actief
- KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle, KAI KA-1
- 53rd Air Demonstration Group (Black Eagles)Aerobatic display team · active
- KAI T-50B Golden Eagle
- 101st Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- Northrop KF-5E/F and F-5F Tiger II
- 201st Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- Northrop KF-5E/F and F-5F Tiger II
- 153rd Fighter Squadron—
- McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II
- 18th Fighter WingJachtvleugel · actief
- Northrop KF-5E/F Tiger II
- 16th Fighter WingJachtvleugel · actief
- KAI TA-50 and FA-50
- 156th Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- KAI KF-21 Boramae, McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II (until 2012)
- 155th Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- KF-16C/D Block 52
- 159e JachtvliegtuigeskaderJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- KF-16C/D Block 52
- 161st Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- F-16C/D Block 32
- 162nd Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- F-16C/D Block 32
- 39th Reconnaissance WingVerkenningsvleugel · actief
- RF-16, Raytheon Hawker 800 (RC-800)
- 120th Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- KF-16C/D Block 52
- 121st Fighter SquadronJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- KF-16C/D Block 52
- 123e JachtvliegtuigeskaderJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- KF-16C/D Block 52
- 157e JachtvliegtuigeskaderJachtvliegtuigeskader · actief
- KF-16C/D Block 52
- 38th Fighter GroupFighter group · active
- KF-16
- Air Force Operations Command (headquarters)Operational command · active
- —
- 5th Air Mobility WingLuchtmobiliteitsvleugel · actief
- Lockheed C-130H/J Hercules, CASA/IPTN CN-235, Airbus KC-330 Cygnus
- 51st Air Control GroupAirborne early warning group · active
- Boeing E-737 Peace Eye
- 15th Special Missions WingSpecial missions and VIP transport wing · active
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules, CASA/IPTN CN-235
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Republic of Korea Air Force milestones, 1914 to today
5 May: an aviation unit is formed within the constabulary, the seed of the air force, according to Namuwiki.
1 October: the Republic of Korea Air Force becomes an independent service with about 1,600 people and some 20 liaison aircraft; Kim Jeong-ryeol is the first chief of staff.
25 June: North Korea invades. Early July: ten F-51D Mustangs arrive; Colonel Lee Keun-seok leads the first sortie on 3 July and is killed on 4 July over Anyang.
September: Colonel Kim Young-hwan leads his aircraft over Haeinsa temple without dropping the bombs he had been ordered to drop, sparing the Tripitaka Koreana.
27 July: the armistice ends the fighting; no peace treaty follows. The air force has about 110 aircraft, 79 of them fighter-bombers.
20 June: the first F-86F Sabres arrive.
The first F-5A/B Freedom Fighters arrive; the Black Eagles are formed on them in 1967.
The first six F-4D Phantoms arrive under Peace Spectator.
August: the F-5E Tiger II is bought; Korean Air licence-builds 68 KF-5s from 1982 to 1986.
36 F-16C/D Block 32s are ordered: South Korea is the first C/D operator outside the United States.
KF-16s of the Korean Fighter Program begin to enter service; the Black Eagles are re-formed on the A-37B on 12 December.
The first F-15Ks are delivered and the T-50 enters service on 22 February.
29 March: the first F-35As land at Cheongju.
19 July: first flight of the KF-21 Boramae. 26 December: five North Korean drones cross the border; none is shot down.
7 June: the last F-4E Phantoms retire at Suwon after 55 years of Phantom service.
6 March: two KF-16s bomb a village in Pocheon by mistake. 20 October: contract for four Global 6500 early-warning aircraft.
22 September: the first production KF-21 is handed to the 156th Fighter Squadron at Yecheon.
Every war the Republic of Korea Air Force has fought
Uitvallen en verliezen waar de gegevens die vermelden, en een eerlijke blanco waar die ontbreken.
- De Koreaanse Oorlog 1950–1953 Began the war without combat aircraft; from July 1950 flew F-51D Mustangs in close support and interdiction, first with American instructors under Project Bout One and from 1952 as an autonomous force
- De Vietnamoorlog 1966–1973 Flew transport missions for the Korean forces in South Vietnam with C-46 Commandos
- De Golfoorlog 1991 An air force detachment known as the Bima unit supported the coalition alongside a Korean medical group
- The bombardment of Yeonpyeong 2010 Scrambled KF-16s and F-15Ks after North Korean artillery shelled the island; they did not attack
- Operation Miracle 2021 Evacuated Afghan staff who had worked for South Korea, with their families
Republic of Korea Air Force news from Afterburner
Everything MiGFlug’s magazine has published on the Republic of Korea Air Force and the aircraft it flies. Deze lijst wordt automatisch vernieuwd — nieuwe Afterburner-verhalen verschijnen hier automatisch.
Everything people ask about the Republic of Korea Air Force
What is the South Korean air force called in Korean?
What fighter jets does South Korea fly in 2026?
When was the Republic of Korea Air Force founded?
What did the ROKAF fly in the Korean War?
What is the KF-21 Boramae and when did it enter service?
When did South Korea retire the F-4 Phantom?
How many F-35s does South Korea have?
What happened in the Pocheon bombing accident?
Who are the Black Eagles?
Where are the US Air Force bases in South Korea?
Read the aircraft the Republic of Korea Air Force flew
Elk type met een pagina in het Boek der Dieren, eerst op basis van de periode dat het in dienst was, daarna op basis van het jaar waarin het de vloot verliet.
Alle feiten gecontroleerd
- Namuwiki: 대한민국 공군User-edited; used as a finding aid for founding dates, the seven founders, Gyeryongdae and personnel 2025.
- Namuwiki: 대한민국 공군참모총장List of chiefs of staff: Kim Jeong-ryeol 1949–1952; Lee Young-su from 31 October 2023; Son Sug-rag from 3 September 2025.
- Defense News: South Korea supercharges defense budget to record levels (9 September 2026)2027 proposal 73.28 trillion won, up 8.2 per cent; KF-21 funding 3.3 trillion won.
- Breaking Defense: South Korea announces completion of KF-21 flight test program (January 2026)About 1,600 test flights over 42 months without an accident; deliveries in the second half of 2026; 40 Block 1 contracted.
- Breaking Defense: South Korea’s KAI rolls out first production KF-21 fighter jet (March 2026)Rollout at Sacheon; 40 Block 1 ordered, 80 Block 2 reported.
- The Aviationist: First Production KF-21 Boramae Delivered to ROKAF (23 September 2026)Delivered 22 September 2026 at Yecheon to the 156th FS, 16th FW, reactivated 1 June 2026; 40 Block I by 2028, 80 Block II by 2032; 1.9 trillion won for the first 20.
- The Aviationist: First Production KF-21 Boramae Rolled Out of Factory in South Korea (26 March 2026)KF-21 to replace the F-4 and KF-5; 120 by 2032; F-15K and KF-16 upgrades.
- The Aviationist: Farewell to a Legend: South Korea’s Final F-4 Phantom Takes Flight in Historic Ceremony (14 June 2024)Ceremony 7 June 2024 at Suwon, 153rd FS, 10th FW; F-4D 1969–2010 (92), F-4E 1977–2024 (94), RF-4C 1989–2014 (27).
- Stars and Stripes: Several injured by South Korean bombs dropped outside practice range (6 March 2025)10:04, two KF-16s, eight Mk 82 bombs, at least 15 injured on the day; air force statement.
- Stars and Stripes: South Korean air force commanders charged over bombing that injured dozens (16 April 2025)52 injured including 38 civilians; wrong coordinates; pilots charged 14 March, commanders 16 April 2025.
- The Aviationist: South Korea To Buy C-390 And Additional F-35A Aircraft (4 December 2023)20 more F-35As for 4.26 trillion won to 2028; C-390 budget 710 billion won; one F-35A retired; C-130H retirement around 2035.
- The Aviationist: South Korean F-35A Performs Belly Landing (4 January 2022)Gear-up landing at Seosan on 4 January 2022.
- Stars and Stripes: South Korea negotiating repairs to F-35 damaged after bird strike (24 May 2023)An eagle strike caused the 2022 belly landing; 40 bought in 2014, deliveries from 2019; 20 more by 2028.
- The Aviationist: South Korea Displays The F-35 To The Public For The First Time (2 October 2019)First F-35As at Cheongju 29 March 2019; 17th FW; 7.4 trillion won for 40; public debut 1 October 2019.
- The Aviationist: Boeing Awarded $2.8 Billion Contract to Upgrade South Korea’s F-15K (2 February 2026)Contract 30 January 2026, 2.806 billion dollars, to December 2037; 59 of 61 F-15Ks remain; Daegu.
- Stars and Stripes: South Korean fighters scramble to meet Russian, Chinese aircraft (9 December 2025)Seven Russian and two Chinese aircraft in the KADIZ on 9 December 2025; South Korean protest; earlier patrol 29 November 2024.
- Stars and Stripes: South Korea responds in force to North Korean drone intrusion near Seoul (26 December 2022)Five drones from 10:25; fighters and helicopters scrambled; KA-1 crash; JCS statement.
- Stars and Stripes: North Korean drone entered no-fly zone near Seoul’s presidential office (5 January 2023)JCS reversed its denial; about five hours over the South; none shot down.
- HistoryNet: Dean Hess: The Flying ParsonBout One: ten F-51Ds; Taegu from 4 July 1950; seven of ten US volunteers killed in the first year; ROKAF autonomous by January 1952; Hess flew 250 missions.
- The Aviationist: U.S. Approves $4.92 Billion Sale of E-7 AEW&C Aircraft to South Korea (6 November 2024)Four more E-7s approved; four Peace Eye delivered 2011–2012.
- The Aviationist: L3Harris Receives Contract for South Korea’s Airborne Early Warning Aircraft (21 October 2025)Contract 20 October 2025, 2.6 billion dollars, four Global 6500 with IAI EL/W-2085 radar, by 2032; E-7 option effectively cancelled.
- Stars and Stripes: South Korean air force pilot ejects from failing F-16 during nighttime training (26 February 2026)F-16C from Chungju crashed near Yeongju at 19:31 on 25 February 2026; pilot safe; Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back.
- Stars and Stripes: US, South Korea discuss air base relocation as tech complex plans proceed (4 September 2026)President ordered the move by mid-2028 (10 August 2026); Muan chosen 28 August 2026; 1st FW to be spread over Yecheon, Seosan and Jungwon meanwhile.
- Stars and Stripes: South Korea’s Black Eagles aerobatic team to refuel in Japan for first time (22 January 2026)Nine T-50Bs to the World Defense Show, Saudi Arabia; Naha refuelling; November 2025 stop cancelled after the team flew near Dokdo/Takeshima.
- Stars and Stripes: South Korean airlifter makes emergency landing in Japan following engine issue (2 February 2026)C-130H bound for Saudi Arabia landed at Naha after an engine lost power.
- The Aviationist: Polish MOD Announces FA-50 Procurement, Black Eagles Display Team Performs Over Deblin (28 July 2022)Black Eagles in Poland, July 2022; Poland orders 48 FA-50s.
- Korea Office of Civil Aviation, eAIP Republic of Korea: amendment history (AIP AMDT 10/26, AIRAC AMDT 9/26 effective 30 September 2026)Index of current and pending eAIP packages.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKTN Daegu International (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 355339N 1283932E, elevation 120 ft; runways 13R/31L 2,755 m and 13L/31R 2,743 m, concrete; ROKAF 11th Tactical Fighter Wing; military air base; quiet hour 1500–2000 UTC.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKTU Cheongju International (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 364259N 1272957E, 58 m; 06L/24R 2,744 x 60 m concrete, 06R/24L 2,744 x 45 m concrete/asphalt; ROKAF and MOLIT; airliners on 06L/24R only.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKPS Sacheon (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 350519N 1280414E, 8 m; 06R/24L 2,743 m concrete, 06L/24R 2,743 m asphalt; ROKAF 3rd Flying Training Wing; jointly operated by MOLIT and ROKAF.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKNW Wonju (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 372617N 1275737E, 100.6 m; 03/21 2,743 m concrete; KAC and ROKAF; JP-8 by agreement with ROKAF.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKJJ Gwangju (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 350735N 1264832E, 15 m; 04R/22L and 04L/22R 2,835 m concrete; ROKAF 1st Fighter Wing; military air base.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKJK Gunsan (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 355414N 1263657E, 9 m; 18/36 9,008 x 150 ft concrete; operator USAF; PAR also available during ROKAF 38FG flying.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKPK Gimhae International (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 351050N 1285617E, 4 m; 18R/36L 3,200 m, 18L/36R 2,743 m, concrete; ROKAF 5th Air Mobility Wing; military air base.
- Korean eAIP, AD 2 RKSM Seoul (Seoul Air Base) (AIRAC AIP AMDT 9/26, effective 30 September 2026)ARP 372645N 1270651E, 28 m; 01/19 9,000 x 150 ft and 02/20 9,700 x 150 ft, concrete; operator ROKAF Seoul Air Base.
- The Aviationist: USAF 8th Fighter Wing F-16s execute first agile combat employment in South Korea (12 February 2025)Two Kunsan F-16s at Gwangju 12–16 January 2025, exercise Beverly Pack 25-1.
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