Aircraft
More F-35 Fighters for South Korea
The Republic of Korea is to buy 20 more F-35 stealth fighters, but the exact nature of the requirement remains a source for debate.
The RoKAF has eight F-35As in-country, with others retained in the U.S. at Luke AFB, Arizona, for training (illustrated). (Photo: U.S. Air Force)
The RoKAF has eight F-35As in-country, with others retained in the U.S. at Luke AFB, Arizona, for training (illustrated). (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration has announced that 20 more Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters will be procured under the second phase of its F-X3 program, due to be launched in 2021, when deliveries of the first batch of 40 are scheduled to be completed. These 40 original F-35As were ordered for the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) in 2014, and deliveries began in March 2019. Eight have now been delivered, and the RoKAF expects to have 13 by the end of the year and 26 by the end of 2020.