South Korean defense agency backs buy of 20 more F-35A jets

SEOUL — A South Korean defense agency has backed the purchase of more F-35A fighter jets as part of the country’s F-X project, which comprises the government’s preemptive strike strategy Kill Chain, meant to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

According to National Assembly member Daesik Kang of the ruling People Power Party, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration participated in a defense committee meeting June 9 to discuss the F-X project. DAPA said that under the effort, South Korea would receive 20 Lockheed Martin-made F-35A jets for its Air Force by 2030. The agency also noted the country would spend 3.9 trillion won (U.S. $3 billion) by next year if the additional jets are ordered.

The lawmaker called the acquisition “appropriate” given North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile advancements. “It is imperative that the ROKAF [South Korean Air Force] increases its counter-North Korea deterrence capabilities with F-X, as the lack of air power of the ROKAF is expected in the mid-2020s,” he said.

The committee is expected to make a final decision July 13, and DAPA is expected to expedite follow-up procedures by reducing the feasibility study period as much as possible.

Lockheed Martin delivered all 40 F-35A Block 3 fighters the country ordered, as of December 2021. The 20 more jets would come in the Block 4 variant, which is capable of compromising enemy radars and other electronic equipment, features an improved electro-optic system, and can carry more ordnance. According to Lockheed, all F-35s the U.S. Air Force currently operates have Block 4 software-enabled capabilities, but the service will begin receiving Block 4 aircraft with Lot 17.

The previous South Korean administration heavily focused on the F-35B over the F-35A as part of the light aircraft carrier project CVX, despite preliminary research performed from 2018 to 2019 that found the country was in need of the “A” variant.

Similarly, the Air Force emphasized a need to strengthen its stealth capabilities amid an aging fighter jet fleet, North Korean nuclear missile advancements and the development efforts of neighboring countries for fifth-generation stealth aircraft.

Even if South Korea’s indigenous 4.5-generation fighter, dubbed KF-21, is developed as scheduled by 2026, the Air Force is concerned the military will face a prolonged gap in air power without additional reinforcements from 2025 to 2031, when it’s expected to have a gap of 70 jets in relation to its minimum required fleet size.

The military reported the need for additional acquisitions under the F-X project to the presidential transition team in March; South Korea’s new president entered office in May.

Daehan Lee was a South Korea correspondent for Defense News. He had previously worked at the U.S. and Belgian embassies in Seoul, for the People Power Party, and for election camps. He also served as a translator for the South Korean Navy. His interests include Asia-Pacific security, defense acquisition, South Korean politics and foreign policy.

首尔——韩国国防机构支持购买更多F-35A战斗机，这是韩国FX项目的一部分，该项目包括政府的先发制人打击战略“杀伤链”，旨在应对朝鲜的核导弹威胁。

据执政党国民力量党国会议员姜大植透露，韩国国防采办计划管理局（DAPA）于6月9日参加了国防委员会会议，讨论了FX项目。DAPA表示，根据该计划，韩国空军将在2030年前接收20架洛克希德·马丁公司制造的F-35A战斗机。该机构还指出，如果订购这些额外的战机，韩国到明年将为此花费3.9万亿韩元（约合30亿美元）。

这位议员称，鉴于朝鲜在核武器和弹道导弹方面的进展，此次采购“恰当”。他表示：“韩国空军必须通过FX战机增强其对朝威慑能力，因为预计到2020年代中期，韩国空军的空中力量将会出现不足。”

委员会预计将于 7 月 13 日做出最终决定，DAPA 预计将尽可能缩短可行性研究期，从而加快后续程序。

截至2021年12月，洛克希德·马丁公司已向美国交付了全部40架F-35A Block 3战斗机。剩余的20架战机将采用Block 4改进型，该改进型具备干扰敌方雷达和其他电子设备的能力，配备了更先进的光电系统，并可携带更多弹药。据洛克希德·马丁公司称，美国空军目前使用的所有F-35战机都已具备Block 4的软件功能，但空军将​​从第17批次开始接收Block 4战机。

尽管 2018 年至 2019 年进行的初步研究发现韩国需要的是“A”型，但韩国前政府在 CVX 轻型航空母舰项目中仍然非常重视 F-35B 而不是 F-35A。

同样，空军强调，在战斗机机队老化、朝鲜核导弹发展以及邻国研发第五代隐形飞机的背景下，有必要加强其隐形能力。

即使韩国自主研发的 4.5 代战斗机 KF-21 能够按计划在 2026 年研制成功，空军也担心，如果没有额外的增援，从 2025 年到 2031 年，韩国的空中力量将长期处于缺口状态，预计届时其战机数量将比最低所需规模少 70 架。

3 月份，军方向总统过渡团队报告了 FX 项目下需要额外采购的情况；韩国新总统于 5 月份就职。

李大汉曾任《防务新闻》驻韩国记者。此前，他曾在美国和比利时驻首尔大使馆、国民力量党以及多个选举营地工作。他还曾担任韩国海军的翻译。他的研究领域包括亚太安全、国防采购、韩国政治和外交政策。