| Republic of Korea Air Force / Han Guk Gong Gun |
By Marco Pennings
The beginning
The Air Force has its roots in the Air Force Foundation Committee, formed in 1943 to train Korean pilots in China for the war against Japan. Shortly after the war, the first South Korean military aircraft included former Japanese types such as the Ki-86 Cypress and Ki-9 Spruce. In August 1946 all aviation related organisations were concentrated in the Korean Aviation Establishment Committee. In May 1948 the US helped form an aviation element under the control of the Ministry of Defence, equipped with the L-4 and L-5. On January 14, 1949 the Aviation Academy was established at Gimpo (then known as Kimpo).
Under pressure of Chinese and Japanese pilots, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), or Han Guk Gong Gun was separated from the South Korean Army on October 1, 1949 on a personal initiative of President Syng-Man Rhee. This was deemed essential in order to preserve the unique identity of pilots during a power struggle within the Army. General Kim Chung Yul became the first ROKAF Chief of Staff with 400 officers and 1500 enlisted men under his command. Eight Piper L-4's, four Stinson L-5's and ten Noorduyn T-6 Harvards were obtained from US depots in Japan, the latter being taken on charge at Yoido Air Base in May 1950 as "National Foundation Aircraft".
War
The strained relationship with its communist neighbour exploded into war on June 25, 1950 when North Korean troops invaded the South, and most of the ROKAF equipment was destroyed by Yak's in a single air raid on Seoul Municipal Airport, leaving only three fly worthy Harvards. Ten F-51 Mustangs were transferred as emergency aid by US President Truman, flying their first combat mission on August 6, 1950. In order to train the ROKAF pilots on their new mounts, the 6146 Base Unit (BASUT) was established with USAF instructor pilots. On August 1, 1951 the ROKAF formed its first operational F-51D unit, the 1 FW at Sachon. On July 27, 1953 an uneasy cease-fire went into effect, and until the present day both countries remain technically at war and are only separated by the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).
Expansion
Shortly after the war pilot training was performed on the Cessna L-19, Ryan L-17 Navion and T-6 Harvard. An expansion program was started in 1955 and on 20 June the first of over 130 F-86F's and twelve RF-86F's was transferred to the ROKAF. These F-86F's replaced the Mustangs with the 10 FW at Gimpo and formed the 101 FS, 102 FS and 103 FS. In 1958 the 11 FW/111 FS and 112 FS were also formed at Gimpo on the F-86F. In August 1955 the T-33 entered service and at least 65 were received. That same month additional AT-6D/F's started arriving with more LT-6G's following in 1958, eventually bringing the total number of Harvards received to over 70. In May 1955 the C-46 started to arrive and a total of 28 were delivered until 1968. The last of over 200 R/T/F-51D Mustangs was phased out in 1957. In December 1961 the 10 FW/108 FS and 109 FS became operational at Suwon on the all-weather F-86D of which at least 50 had been received.
Early helicopters were the two UH-19D's delivered in April 1958 for SAR duties, years later followed by five HH-19B's. Pilot training got a boost when on December 20, 1960 the T-28 Trojan was taken on charge, with a total of 34 delivered. On April 30, 1965 a new fighter entered the inventory as the 10 FW/105 FS at Suwon received the first F-5A/B's. A total of 88 F-5A's en 19 F-5B's were received between 1965 and 1972, and at least nine RF-5A's from 1972. On January 23, 1968 the spy ship USS Pueblo and her 82 sailors were captured by North Vietnam, and that same high-tension year South Korea ordered a batch of eighteen F-4D's. On August 25, 1969 the first six F-4D's destined for the 11 FW/151 FS at Daegu arrived in Seoul. Late 1972 under US program Enhance Plus a total of 36 F-5A's were transferred to South Vietnam. Some of these returned a few years later after the fall of Saigon, as part of a transfer of nineteen ex-VNAF F-5A's. In turn the 11 FW/110 FS at Daegu received eighteen ex-3 TFW F-4D's, first on loan but they were transferred to the ROKAF in 1975.
1974 was a busy year for the ROKAF. An additional sixteen F-5B's were delivered that year, in September fourteen O-2A FAC's were received and from November 1974 the more modern F-5E (126 received) and F-5F (20 received) came into service forming some ten squadrons. In 1975 some twenty T-41B's went to the Air Force Academy. From September 1977 a total of 37 new F-4E's were received under program Peace Pheasant II, and they formed the 11 FW/152 FS at Daegu, followed by the 153 FS at Cheongju where these squadrons formed the 17 FW in June 1979. Not only new fighters were introduced, in August 1973 the venerable C-123 Provider entered service replacing the C-46 and at least fifteen C-123J/K were received between 1973 and 1977. They served next to another old lady, the Skymaster of which some seventeen C-54D/E/G models were active from early 1965. In June 1975 three EC-47Q's came into service, but they may have been withdrawn from use in 1978. In June 1973 the first of 26 new T-37C's greatly enhanced ROKAF pilot training, followed in 1982 by 42 ex Brazilian machines. At least 28 ex-VNAF A-37B's were received from October 1976.
Modernisation
Although a large number of new aircraft entered service between 1965 and 1980, this was not all to replace older equipment as the C-54, F-86, T-28 and T-33 still soldiered on in second-line duties. The next fifteen years would see a slow but steady modernisation process picking up pace in the new millennium. In 1980 a licence agreement was signed between Northrop and the Hanjin Corporation (Korean Airlines) for the assembly of a modified F-5E/F, locally known as the KF-5E/F and named Chegong (Skymaster). Between September 1982 and 1986 a total of 48 KF-5E's and twenty KF-5F's were received and they equipped three squadrons (101 FS, 201 FS and 207 FS). FMS program Peace Bridge I finally brought state-of-the-art technology to South Korea as 30 F-16C's and ten F-16D's formed 161 FS and 162 FS with the 11 FW at Daegu from April 1986. In 1992 these squadrons moved to Jungwon and formed the 19 FW. The arrival of the F-16's was insufficient to fulfil ROKAF's expansion plans, and as a stopgap measure more F-4's were acquired. 24 ex-USAF Pave Spike F-4D's formed 11 FW/159 FS at Daegu early 1988 and also in 1988 10 FW/156 FS was formed at Suwon with eighteen ex-USAF F-4E's. From December 1990 another 36 ex-USAF F-4E's followed and 17 FW/157 FS was formed at Cheongju. Total F-4 deliveries are circa 92 F-4D's and 103 F-4E's. In 1990 the small recce force was expanded as eighteen ex-USAF RF-4C's entered service with the 10 FW/39 TRG/ 131 TRS at Suwon.
On April 28, 1989 the T-28 Trojan was finally withdrawn from use, followed by the T-33 in 1992. In March 1992 the C-54 was retired, and probably a year later the C-123 was also withdrawn from use. In return four C-130H and eight C-130H-30 transports entered service from Januari 1988 followed by twenty CN235's from November 1993. The T-33 was replaced by twenty Hawk Mk67's from September 1992 and these advanced jet trainers are locally known as the T-59.
In the ambitious Korean Fighter Program (formerly the F-X program), the F-16 was beaten by the F/A-18 and in December 1989 the government announced an order for 120 Hornets to be built in South Korea. Unfortunately financial hurdles made the deal fall through and 80 F-16C's and 40 F-16D's were ordered instead. These Peace Bridge II aircraft are designated KF-16C/D and are locally known as Boramae (Falcon). First deliveries were by LMTAS on December 2, 1994, followed by aircraft who were at first assembled and later manufactured by Samsung Aerospace. These deliveries allowed 159 FS to relinquish the F-4D, and form 155 FS, both with the 19 FW at Jungwon. At Seosan the 20 FW was formed and the 120 FS became operational on the KF-16C/D on June 18, 1997. This squadron was followed by 121 FS, 123 FS and 157 FS (ex F-4E), with final deliveries on April 19, 2000.
Although over the years several helicopters had entered service in small numbers, like the AS332L, UH-1B/N and Bell 212/412, they played only a small role in the ROKAF. In December 1991 the HH-47D was received for Special Operations and SAR tasks, and six were delivered to the 235 SRS at Cheongju. Co-located 233 CSRS received an undisclosed number of UH-60P's in the early 90's, and uses them for Combat SAR duties. There is more movement on the trainer front. Because no more Hawks were bought after the first batch of twenty, an advanced jet trainer capacity gap resulted until the arrival of the locally designed T-50. To fill this gap the ROKAF leased 30 T-38A Talons for five years, the first of which arrived with the 16 FW at Yecheon on March 25, 1999. For ab-initio training the ROKAF needed a replacement for the T-41 and T-37, and the KTX-1 project was started. This resulted in the KAI designed KT-1 Wong Bee which entered service with the 3 TW at Sacheon on November 3, 2000. A total of 85 aircraft are on order, and on January 17, 2004 the last T-37's were withdrawn from use by the 213 FTS.
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For tactical reconnaissance, surveillance and SIGINT tasks, eight BAe125-800SIG/RA were bought and subsequently delivered in 2000. ROKAF calls them RC-800's and they are based at Seongnam, possibly with the 125 TRS. In July 2000 a repeat order for fourteen KF-16C's and six KF-16D's was placed, the first of which was handed over to the 20 FW on June 25, 2003. As part of repaying an outstanding Russian debt, RSK MiG delivered 23 lightweight multipurpose IL-103's to the ROKAF. Locally known as the T-103, deliveries started in June 2004 and in July the first were accepted by the 212 FTS of the Air Force Academy.
Future
The near future has some dramatic changes for the ROKAF inventory in store, the most important of which is the T-50/A-50 Golden Eagle project. This advanced supersonic jet trainer started as the KTX-2 project, and after initial delays KAI attracted a foreign partner in the shape of the LMTAS division of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. Full-scale development started in 1997 and first flight from the KAI factory at Sacheon took place on August 20, 2002. The T-50 will perform the advanced jet- and lead-in fighter training thus replacing the T-59 Hawk, T-38 Talon and F-5B. Requirements are for 50 T-50A's (the advanced jet trainer, AJT) of which the first 25 were ordered on December 19, 2003. The first production aircraft was rolled-out on August 30, 2005. The lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) was until recently called T-50B but may have become the A-50 light attack version. ROKAF wants 22 A-50/LIFT trainers for delivery from 2008 and 22 upgrade A-50/CAS (Close Air Support) aircraft to replace the A-37B's with 8 FW/238 FS and 239 SFS (the Black Eagles demonstration team) at Wonju from 2011. Also a single-seat F-50 fighter model is studied and is seen as a possible replacement for the F-5 and old F-16A's.
Heavier metal comes in the shape of the F-15K of which 40 are on order, worth some $3.6 billion. The first two aircraft arrived at Seongnam on Ocober 7, 2005. They will be followed by ten more in 2006, sixteen in 2007 and the final twelve by August 2008. At Gwangju the F-5A/B's were withdrawn from use on August 3, 2005 and first 122 FS and then 102 FS will reform at Daegu on the F-15K. Rumours are that these aircraft will eventually be based with the 21 FW at a new airbase at Jeju Airport. Original requirements were for 120 aircraft, and it remains to be seen if a second batch of 40 will be purchased. Possibly the F-4D's of the 11 FW will be the first to be replaced, unless the 21 FW becomes a reality. Other Phantoms in the balance are the 131 TRS RF-4C's at Suwon. South Korea is expected to issue a tender for reconnaissance pods in the first quarter of 2004, required to equip twenty F-16's for the tactical recce role. The system involved is the Long Range Oblique Photography (LOROP) system and should be delivered in 2007.
The KAI KO-1 is the armed version of the KT-1 trainer, and has a Forward Airborne Controller (FAC) and Counter-Insurgency (COIN) role. On December 17, 2003 ROKAF signed a contract for twenty aircraft. The first aircraft was presented on July 27, 2005 and first deliveries to replace the O-2A's of the 237 TCS at Seongnam took place in August. In 2004 four major programs were started, the first of which was the VHX competition for three large VIP helicopters worth $113 million. Contenders were the Mi-17, EH101 and S-92 and on May 6, 2005 a contract for three S-92's was signed with deliveries to be completed in 2007. The Ministry of Defence also revealed its plans for the E-X project on February 4, 2004, which is the procurement of AEW&C aircraft for the ROKAF. Four aircraft are needed of which two should be in service in 2009 and all four in 2011, for a total cost of $1,7 billion. Tenders were issued in March 2004, but after a failed evaluation of the IAI Gulfstream G550 Phalcon AEW&C and Boeing 737-700 IGW Wedgetail AEW&C the project has restarted. Boeing now offers four E-737's for ca $1,5 billion and IAI ELTA offers four Gulfstream G550's for ca $1,1 billion. Spectra Vista Corp. (SVC) from the US is also a contender. A bit of a surprise was the delivery on June 22, 2004 of the first of seven Ka-32A-04's for the 235 SRS at Cheongju, replacing the UH-1N. These Ka-32's, locally known as HH-32, were produced by the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise and bought by the South Korean firm LGI. They are equipped with IAI Lahav supplied avionics. Finally, after 57 years, the ROKAF introduced a new roundel in April 2005.
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| Republic of Korea Naval Aviation |
By Marco Pennings
The Republic of Korea Naval Aviation is a relative young component of South Korea's impressive military machine. From 1973, a small unit was equipped with the first fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. On January 5, 1973 a small number (maybe only four) O-1C's entered service and formed the Fleet-Air squadron in May 1973. The O-1's were followed by two Bell 206B's (designated OH-58) on March 29, 1974. Soon afterwards the force was greatly enhanced and the existing Fleet-Air squadron was expanded into the Naval Air Wing Flotilla on January 24, 1977 to better manage the strengthened Naval Aviation. By May 1976 the first S-2 Trackers had entered service (and the first fatal accident had occurred) with 101sq, followed by the SA-319B (at least seven with 201sq) and Korean Air (MDHI) 500MD (25 reported) in 1977 and the UH-1H (a few, equipped with floats) in 1978. Naval Aviation Unit 1056 is sometimes named as an early user of the OH-58. The Trackers were S-2A, S-2D, S-2E and US-2C models and at least 28 were received between 1976 and 1981. Maybe some ex ROKAF S-2A's were also used.
A total of three squadrons were formed on the Tracker, 101sq at Gimhae in 1976, 103sq at Pohang on May 7, 1984 and 105sq at Jeju on February 1, 1982. 105sq also used the 500MD. On February 1, 1986 the Naval Air Wing Flotilla became Air Wing 6, an independent unit under direct control of ROK Fleet Command. On that same date, all fixed-wing squadrons were renumbered and possibly 61 and 62 Air Groups were formed:
- 101sq became 611sq at Pohang equipped with the S-2E.
- 103sq became 613sq at Pohang equipped with the S-2E.
- 105sq became 615sq Sea Eagles at Jeju equipped with the S-2E and 500MD.
It looks like the SA-319B equipped 201sq was not renumbered until September 29, 1989 when it became 621sq. SA-319B's replaced the 500MD's with 615sq from December 30, 1991. In January 1992, 621sq moved to its present location at Mokpo. SA-319B serial 301 is a celebrity as it carries a ship kill for sinking a North-Korean spy ship with a missile on August 13, 1983. The 90's were a decade of modernization with three new types entering service. First was the Westland Lynx Mk99, and twelve were delivered from August 12, 1990 to form 627sq. An additional thirteen Lynx Mk99A's were received from September 1999 and formed 629sq in 2000. Both Lynx squadrons are based at Jinhae, and a few Lynx helicopters are also based with 615sq at Jeju where they replaced the SA-319B's. A true multi-purpose helicopter is the UH-60P, used for Navy Seals special operations, medevac, VIP and utility tasks. Ten were received by 1993 and formed 623sq at Pohang, where they operate next to the UH-1H.
On the fixed-wing front the venerable S-2 has just recently been phased out. From March 22, 1995 a total of eight P-3C Update III+ maritime patrol aircraft were delivered to 613sq at Pohang. Co-located 611sq lost its Trackers when five Ce F406 Coastal ASW aircraft were taken on charge from November 23, 1998. The Ce F406 is locally known as the C-400. In March 2001 the last operational Tracker was retired by 615sq at Jeju, and replaced by the P-3C.
For the RoKN Mine Countermeasures (AMX) program, eight helicopters are required in 2011. The prime contender could be the winner of the ROKAF's VHX competition for three large VIP helicopters. Contenders in this $100 million competition are the MH-60S, Mi-17, EH101 and S-92. The procurement of nine former USN P-3B's is certain after a letter of intent was signed in December 2003 and the required budget had been reserved. Eight ex-AMARC aircraft will be overhauled and upgraded and enter service as P-3B-LW with 613 NS and 615 NS between 2007 and 2010, while number nine will be used for spare parts.
Text: Marco Pennings
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According to the Koreans, the first of their kin was born in 2333 BC. Scientists with slightly less respect for Korean mythology believe Korea was first inhabited around 30,000 BC, when tribes from central and northern Asia stumbled on the peninsula. Under constant pressure from China, these tribes banded together to found a kingdom in the 1st century AD. By 700 AD the Silla Kingdom of Korea was hitting its cultural stride, littering the country with palaces, pagodas and pleasure gardens and influencing the development of Japan's culture. But in the early 13th century the Mongols reached Korea and gave it their customary scorched-earth treatment. When the Mongol Empire collapsed, the Choson Dynasty took over and a Korean script was developed.
The Order of Battle