Republic of Korea Air Force

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF; Korean: 대한민국 공군; Hanja: 大韓民國空軍; RR: Daehanminguk Gong-gun), also known as the ROK Air Force or South Korean air force, is the aerial warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the South Korean Ministry of National Defense.

Republic of Korea Air Force
대한민국 공군 Daehanminguk Gong-gun
Republic of Korea Air Force emblem
Founded	1 October 1949 (74 years, 3 months)
Country	South Korea
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	65,000 (2022)^[1] 720 aircraft
Part of	Republic of Korea Armed Forces
Headquarters	Gyeryong, South Korea
Motto(s)	대한민국을 지키는 가장 높은 힘 "The Highest Power Defending Korea"^[2]
March	공군가 "Air Force Song"^[3]^[4]
Mascot(s)	Haneuli and Purumae
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War Persian Gulf War Global War on Terrorism
Website	Official website
Commanders
President	Yoon Suk Yeol
Minister of National Defense	Shin Won-sik
Chief of Staff of Air Force	General Lee Young-su
Insignia
Flag
Logo
Roundel
Low Visibility Roundel
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	E-7A
Fighter	F-5E/F, F-4E, F-16C, F-15K, FA-50, F-35A
Helicopter	Bell 412, CH-47D, HH-60P, S-92, Ka-32, MD 500 Defender, Eurocopter AS332
Attack helicopter	MD 500 Defender
Patrol	RQ-4 Global Hawk
Reconnaissance	RC-800, Dassault Falcon 2000
Trainer	KAI KT-1, TA-50/50B, KT-100
Transport	Boeing 747, Boeing 737, CASA CN-235, C-130H, C-130J
Tanker	KC-30A

History

1940s

Shortly after the end of World War II, the South Korean Air Construction Association was founded on August 10, 1946, to publicize the importance of air power. Despite the then-scanty status of Korean armed forces, the first air unit was formed on May 5, 1948, under the direction of Dong Wi-bu, the forerunner to the modern South Korean Ministry of National Defense. On September 13, 1949, the United States contributed 10 L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft to the South Korean air unit. An Army Air Academy was founded in January 1949, and the ROKAF was officially founded in October 1949.

1950s

The 1950s were a critical time for the ROKAF as it expanded tremendously during the Korean War. At the outbreak of the war, the ROKAF consisted of 1,800 personnel, but was equipped with only 20 trainers and liaison aircraft, including 10 North American T-6 Texan advanced trainers purchased from Canada. The North Korean air force had acquired a considerable number of Yak-9 and La-7 fighters from the Soviet Union, dwarfing the ROKAF in terms of size and strength. During the course of the war, though, the ROKAF acquired 110 aircraft - 79 fighter-bombers, three fighter squadrons, and one fighter wing. The first combat aircraft received were North American F-51D Mustangs, along with a contingent of US Air Force instructor pilots under the command of Major Dean Hess, as part of Bout One Project. The ROKAF participated in bombing operations and flew independent sorties. After the war, the ROKAF Headquarters were moved to Daebangdong, Seoul. Air Force University was also founded in 1956.

 

P-51 Mustangs were among the first fighter aircraft for the ROKAF

1960s

To counter the threat of possible North Korean aggression, the ROKAF underwent a substantial capability enhancement. The ROKAF acquired North American T-28 Trojan trainers, North American F-86D Sabre night- and all-weather interceptors, Northrop F-5 fighters and McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom fighter bombers. Air Force Operations Command was established in 1961 to secure efficient command and control facilities. Air Force Logistics Command was established in 1966, and emergency runways were constructed for emergency use during wartime. The Eunma Unit was founded in 1966 to operate Curtiss C-46 Commando transport aircraft used to support Republic of Korea Army and Republic of Korea Marine Corps units serving in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.^[5]

1970s

The ROKAF was posed with a security risk, with an increasingly belligerent North Korea throughout the 1970s. The South Korean government increased its expenditure on the ROKAF, resulting in the purchase of Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighters in August 1974 and F-4E fighter-bombers. Support aircraft, such as Fairchild C-123 Providers and Grumman S-2 Trackers were also purchased at the time. Great emphasis was placed in the flight training program; new trainer aircraft (Cessna T-41 Mescalero and Cessna T-37) were purchased, and the Air Force Education & Training Command was also founded in 1973 to consolidate and enhance the quality of personnel training.

1980s

The ROKAF concentrated on qualitative expansion of aircraft to catch up to the strength of the North Korean Air Force. In 1982, Korean variants of the F-5E, the Jegong-ho were first produced. The ROKAF gathered a good deal of information on the North Korean Air Force when Captain Lee Woong-pyeong, a North Korean pilot, defected to South Korea. The Korean Combat Operations Information center was soon formed and the Air Defence System was automated to attain air superiority against North Korea. When the 1988 Seoul Olympics was held in South Korea, the ROKAF contributed to the success of this event by helping to oversee the entire security system. The ROKAF also moved its headquarters and the Air Force Education & Training Command to other locations. 40 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters were also purchased in 1989.

1990s

South Korea committed its support for coalition forces during the Persian Gulf War, forming the "Bima Unit" to fight in the war. The ROKAF also provided airlift support for peacekeeping operations in Somalia in 1993. The increased participation in international operations depicted the ROKAF's elevated international position. Over 180 KF-16 fighters of F-16 Block 52 specifications were introduced as part of the Peace Bridge II & III program from 1994. In 1997, for the first time in Korean aviation history, female cadets were accepted into the Korean Air Force Academy.

2000s

The last of the old South Korean 60 F-5A/B fighters were all retired in August 2007, and they were replaced with the F-15K and F/A-50. On October 20, 2009, Bruce S. Lemkin, deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force, said that the ROKAF's limited intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities increased the risk of instability on the Korean Peninsula and suggested the purchase of American systems such as the F-35 Lightning II to close this gap.^[6]

2010s

The South Korean Air Force also expressed interests in acquiring the RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) and a number of Joint Direct Attack Munition conversion kits to further improve its intelligence and offensive capabilities. In 2014, Northrop Grumman awarded a contract to provide South Korea with four RQ-4 Global.^[7] The South Korean Air Force acquired 40 F-35s and +20 additional F-35.

2020s

In 2021, the Space Operations Center was established at the Air Force Headquarters.^[8]

On 22 October 2023, the ROKAF conducted its first-ever trilateral exercise with the United States and Japanese air forces near the Korean Peninsula.^[9]

Organization

 

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft

Republic of Korea Air Force Headquarters

• Republic of Korea Air Force Headquarters
  • 7th Airforce Communication Service Group
  • 35th Flight Group, based at Seongnam
  • 52nd Test & Evaluation Group
  • 53rd Air Demonstration Group, based at Wonju
  • 91st Civil Engineer Group
  • Air Force Aerospace Medical Center
  • Air Force Weather Group
• Air Force Operations Command
  • Korean Air And Space Operations Center
  • Air Combat Command
    • 1st Fighter Wing, based at Gwangju (T-50)
    • 8th Fighter Wing, based at Wonju (FA-50, KA-1, HARPY)
    • 10th Fighter Wing, based at Suwon (KF-5E/F, F-4E)
    • 11th Fighter Wing, based at Daegu (F-15K)
    • 16th Fighter Wing, based at Yecheon (TA-50, FA-50)
    • 17th Fighter Wing, based at Cheongju (F-35A)
    • 18th Fighter Wing, based at Gangneung (KF-5E/F)
    • 19th Fighter Wing, based at Chungju (KF-16, F-16)
    • 20th Fighter Wing, based at Seosan (KF-16)
    • 29th Tactical Fighter Weapons Group, base at Cheongju
    • 38th Fighter Group, based at Gunsan (KF-16)
  • Air Mobility & Reconnaissance Command
    • 3rd Flying Training Wing, based at Sacheon (KT-1)
    • 5th Air Mobility Wing, based at Gimhae (C-130, CN-235, KC-330)
    • 15th Special Missions Wing, based at Seongnam (C-130, CN-235)
    • 39th Reconnaissance Wing, based at Chungju (RF-16, RC-800)^[10]
    • 6th Search & Rescue Air Group, base at Cheongju
      • 231st Search and Rescue Squadron
      • 233th Search and Rescue Squadron
      • 235th Search and Rescue Squadron
      • Special search and Rescue squad
    • 28th Flight Group
    • 51st Air Control Flight Group, base at Gimhae (E-737)

       

      Boeing 737 AEW&C aircraft of the Republic of Korea Air Force

  • Air & Missile Defense Command
    • 1st Air & Missile Defense Brigade
    • 2nd Air & Missile Defense Brigade
    • 3rd Air & Missile Defense Brigade
  • Air Defense Control Command
    • 31st Air Defense Control Group (1MCRC)
    • 32nd Air Defense Control Group (2MCRC)
    • 33rd Air Defense Control Group
    • 34th Air Defense Control Group
• Air Force Logistics Command
• Air Force Education & Training Command
  • Basic Military Training Wing
  • Air Force Aviation Science High School
  • 1st Logistics School
  • 2nd Logistics School
  • Information Communication School
  • Administrative School
  • Air Defence Artillery School
  • Boramae Leadership Center
• Air Force Academy

Current Major Projects

KF-X future fighter program

Main article: KAI KF-21 Boramae

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 Boramae (Northern Goshawk) is a multi-role 4.5 generation fighter built By Korean KAI and Indonesian PT DI. It will have capabilities in between the light FA-50 fighter and the high-grade, long range, heavy payload F-15K and F-35 Lightning II.^[11][12]

Mid-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (MUAV)

Main article: KUS-FS MALE

The indigenously developed KUS-FS, nicknamed MUAV or Korean Unmanned System (KUS-FS), is designed for armed land and sea Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions with endurance of up to 24 hours. Its maiden flight was in 2012. Korean Air's Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) unveiled its MALE UAV in 2019 with LIG Nex1 SAR and Hanwha EO/IR sensors, aimed for serial production in 2021. It reportedly has a wider wingspan than the Reaper at 25 m and is powered by a 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engine.^[13][14][15] South Korea will develop turbofan engines to be installed in high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles by 2025.^[16]

M-SAM Block II

In the spring of 2017 the PIP missile (M-SAM Block II) began its final tests, during which it shot down five of five practice ballistic missile targets. Seven (batteries) are scheduled for deployment throughout South Korea by 2022.^[17]

L-SAM

L-SAM refers to a locally made long-range surface-to-air missile current under development, while the Cheolmae II, also known as KM-SAM, is a domestically manufactured medium-range surface-to-air missile capable of engaging an incoming target at an altitude as high as 20 kilometers. The new project has been nicknamed the K-THAAD due to its planned long range of 25 to 93 miles and ability to hit targets high as 200,000 feet. Nearly $1 billion has been devoted to the L-SAM or Cheolmae-4, which is scheduled for completion in 2022 with deployment of four batteries to follow a year or two afterwards.^[18]

Large Strategic Transport Aircraft

Since the introduction of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules as a large transport aircraft in 2010,^[19] ROKAF has announced its intention to implement a second project for the acquisition of large strategic transporters.^[20] Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has disclosed detailed plans, outlining the purchase of four aircraft from overseas, with the entire project costing 480 billion won (US$37 million). DAPA has also mandated the formation of a consortium, involving Korean companies in the production of aircraft components.^[21]

Throughout March and April 2023, ROKAF, DAPA, and KIDA (the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis) conducted an assessment of manufacturers, including Airbus, Embraer, Lockheed Martin, as part of the procurement evaluation.^[22] The three manufacturers submitted the Airbus A400M Atlas, Embraer C-390 Millennium, and Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules for consideration in the second project.^[22] In December 2023, DAPA selected the Embraer C-390 Millennium as the winner of the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II tender, and planning to introduce three units by 2026.^[23][24]

In 2018, apart from the second project, the Korean government was in discussions with the Spanish government regarding a potential swap involving the Airbus A400M Atlas for the KT-1 Woongbi basic trainer and the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced trainer.^[25]

Long Range Air Defense Radar

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has launched a project to develop an indigenous long-range air defense radar. Foreign-manufactured radars (Lockheed Martin TPS-77) currently in use to monitor Kadiz will be phased out and replaced with the new domestic equipment starting from 2027, according to the agency.^[26]

Equipment

Aircraft

 

F-15K on landing

 

A FA-50 on first delivery

 

The air force operates the Kamov Ka-32A4s helicopter for CSAR

 

A F-16 Fighting Falcon on takeoff

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat Aircraft
F-4 Phantom II	United States	multirole	F-4E	24^[27]
F-5 Tiger II	United States	fighter	KF-5E	153^[27]
			KF-5F	29	Also provide training^[27]
F-15E Strike Eagle	United States	multirole	F-15K	59^[27]
F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	multirole	KF-16C	118
			KF-16D	49	Also provide training^[27]
F-35 Lightning II	United States	multirole	F-35A	40^[27]	2 are used for conversion training^[27]
T-50 Golden Eagle	Republic of Korea	light multirole	FA-50	60^[27]
AWACS
Boeing 737 AEW&C	United States	Early warning and control		4^[27]	Employs a Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array radar
Reconnaissance
Hawker 800	United Kingdom	reconnaissance / SIGINT	RC-800s	8^[27]
Dassault Falcon	France	ELINT	2000	2^[27]	4 on order^[28]
Tanker
Airbus A330 MRTT	France	refueling / transport		4^[27]
Transport
Boeing 737	United States	VIP	737-300	1^[29]
Boeing 747	United States	VIP	747-8I	1^[30]	Presidential transport leased from Korean Air.^[31]
C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical airlift	C-130H	12^[27]
C-130J Super Hercules	United States	tactical airlift		4^[27]
C-390 Millennium	Brazil	tactical airlift			3 on order^[23]
CASA CN-235	Spain / Indonesia	transport / utility		18^[27]
Helicopters
Bell 412	United States	utility		3^[27]
CH-47 Chinook	United States	transport / CSAR	CH-47D	9^[27]
Eurocopter AS332	France	utility / transport		3^[27]
Kamov Ka-27	Russia	CSAR	Ka-32	7^[27]
MD 500 Defender	United States	scout / light attack		25^[27]
UH-60 Black Hawk	United States	utility / CSAR	HH-60P	17^[27]
Sikorsky S-92	United States	VIP		3^[32]
Trainer Aircraft
KC-100 Naraon	Republic of Korea	trainer	KT-100	23^[27]
KT-1 Woongbi	Republic of Korea	trainer	KT-1	103^[27]
		light attack	KA-1
T-50 Golden Eagle	Republic of Korea	trainer	T-50	72^[27]
		Aerobatic-specialized	T-50B	10^[27]	Used by Black Eagles aerobatic team
		LIFT	TA-50	22^[27]	20 Block II on order.^[33]
UAV
RQ-4 Global Hawk	United States	surveillance		4^[34]

Retired aircraft

 

Retired North American F-86F Sabre of the ROKAF on display

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the P-51 Mustang, North American F-86 Sabre, F-4 Phantom II, Curtiss C-46, Douglas C-47, Grumman S-2 Tracker, Lockheed T-33, BAe 748, Cessna T-37, Cessna A-37, North American T-28, North American T-6, Sikorsky H-19, and the Bell UH-1 Huey.^[35][36][37]

Air Defence

The ROKAF Air Defence Artillery Command transferred from the Republic of Korea Army's air defense artillery and was established as a basic branch on 1 July 1991.^[38]

Name	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Surface-to-air missile
MIM-104 Patriot	United States	ABM / SAM system	PAC-3^[39]	8 batteries^[40]
KM-SAM Cheongung	Republic of Korea	medium range ABM / SAM system	Block I	18 batteries^[41]
			Block II	1 (7 on order)^[42]
Anti-aircraft artillery
M167 VADS	Republic of Korea	anti-aircraft gun	KM167A3	200	20mm anti-aircraft gun
Man-portable air-defense system
KP-SAM Shingung	Republic of Korea	man-portable air-defense system		2,000

Military ranks

Officer ranks can be learned fairly easily if one sees the pattern. So equals small; Jung equals medium; Dae equals large. Jun equals the prefix sub-. Each of these is coupled with wi equals company grade, ryeong equals field grade, and jang equals general. This system is due to the hanja or Sino-Korean origin of the names.

Rank group	General/Flag/Air officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Republic of Korea Air Force^[43] v t e
	원수 Wonsu		대장 Daejang		중장 Jungjang		소장 Sojang		준장 Junjang		대령 Daeryeong		중령 Jungnyeong		소령 Soryeong		대위 Daewi		중위 Jungwi			소위 Sowi

Rank group	Warrant officer
Republic of Korea Air Force^[43]
	준위 Junwi

Rank group	Non-commissioned officer																Enlisted
Republic of Korea Air Force^[43] v t e
	원사 Wonsa						상사 Sangsa		중사 Jungsa		하사 Hasa						병장 Byeongjang						상등병 Sangdeungbyeong				일등병 Ildeungbyeong		이등병 Ideungbyeong

Roundels

•  
  2000–present
•  
  2000–present
  (low-visibility)
•  
  1951–2000
•  
  1950s

See also

• Chief of Staff of the Air Force (South Korea)
• Republic of Korea Armed Forces
• Korean People's Army Air Force

References

1. (PDF). December 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
2. . Republic of Korea Air Force. Archived from the original on 2023-02-18. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
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4. KY Karaoke (금영노래방 공식 유튜브 채널) (12 December 2014). "[KY 금영노래방] 군가 - 공군가 (KY Karaoke No.KY4574)". from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2016 – via YouTube.
5. Larsen, Stanley; Collins, Lawton (1985). Allied Participation in Vietnam. Department of the Army. p. 131. ISBN 9781410225016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
6. "Korea Urged to Secure Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems". 20 October 2009. from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
7. Hoyle, Craig (17 December 2014). "Seoul finalises $657 million Global Hawk purchase". flightglobal.com. from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
8. "South Korean Air Force Inaugurates Space Operations Center". aviationweek.com. Aviation Week. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
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10. [1] South Korea establishes new air force reconnaissance unit- airforce-technology.com, 03 Nov 2020
11. "KAI KF-21 (KF-X)". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
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14. "South Korean MND eyes KUS-FS UAV for RoKA Ground Operations Command". Janes.com. 30 March 2020.
15. "South Korean KUS-FS MALE UAS Continues Flight Trials". Uasweekly.com. 23 March 2018.
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17. 한국형 패트리엇 '천궁' 양산 추진, KAMD 구축 '잰걸음' - edaily.co.kr, 7 February 2018
18. Meet South Korea's Very Own Killer S-300 Air Defense System - nationalinterest.org, 24 February 2019
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21. "해병대 상륙공격헬기 국내 개발·대형수송기 국외구매" [Marine Corps landing attack helicopter developed in Korea and purchased large transportation airplanes overseas]. YTN News (in Korean). 26 April 2021.
22. "공군 대형 수송기 2차 사업, 美·유럽·브라질 '3파전'… 연내 기종 결정" [Korea Air Force large transporter 2nd project, America·Europe·Brazil 'Three-way war'… decide the type within a year]. News1 (in Korean). 24 June 2023.
23. "軍 대형수송기 2차 기종, 美 아닌 브라질 C-390 선정" [Seconda large transport for the Air Force, selected Brazilian C-390 instead of American built]. Donga News (in Korean). 5 December 2023.
24. "South Korea selects the Embraer C-390 Millennium" (Press release). Embraer. 4 December 2023.
25. "Korea, Spain discuss swap deal between trainer, cargo jets: report". Korea Times. 4 November 2018.
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29. "WAF 2004 pg. 86". Flightglobal Insight. 2004. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
30. "S. Korea's new presidential jet enters service for Moon's trip to Middle East". Yonhap News Agency. 15 January 2022.
31. "Seoul to lease Korean Air B747-8 as presidential aircraft". ch-aviation.com. 18 June 2020.
32. "Sikorsky Delivers Three S-92 Helicopters to Korean Air Force". aero-news.net. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
33. "South Korea orders 20 TA-50 Block 2 training/light attack aircraft". www.janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
34. "US delivers fourth and final RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV to RoKAF". www.janes.com. Janes. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
35. "World Air Forces 1955 pg. 648". flightglobal.com. from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
36. "World Air Forces 1973 pg. 152". flightglobal.com. from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
37. "World Air Forces 1969 pg. 249". flightglobal.com. from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
38. "국가법령정보센터 - 법령 > 본문 - 공군방공포병사령부령". www.law.go.kr. from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
39. "Deliveries of PAC-3 air-defence systems to RoKAF completed". www.janes.com. 14 December 2020.
40. Trade Registers. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 6 October 2015
41. "북 미사일 막을 방공망 촘촘해진다 [양낙규 군사전문기자]" (in Korean). www.asiae.co.kr/article 아시아경제. 19 August 2020.
42. "RoKAF receives first Cheongung-II M-SAM battery". www.janes.com. 26 November 2020.
43. "gyegeubjang-ui jesig(je7joje2hang gwanlyeon)" 계급장의 제식(제7조제2항 관련) [Rank insignia (related to Article 7 (2))]. law.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 30 December 2021.

External links

• ROK Air Force official website (Korean / English)