In an effort to strengthen its deterrence capabilities in the region, the U.S. Air Force is reportedly considering the permanent deployment of its advanced F-35A stealth fighters to South Korea. Until now, these aircraft had only been deployed temporarily as part of combined training exercises between the two countries. If confirmed, the move would represent a major enhancement of the forces stationed there, especially considering that with the planned retirement of the A-10 aircraft this year, only F-16 fighters would remain available.
The information was reported this week by local South Korean media, citing sources familiar with the matter who stated that the U.S. Air Force is considering the deployment of up to two squadrons, each consisting of around 20 aircraft. According to some of these statements: “The U.S. military plans to permanently deploy the F-35As at Kunsan Air Base. First, one squadron will be permanently deployed, and there is a possibility of a second squadron being deployed on a rotational basis.”
It is worth noting that the mention of Kunsan Air Base is not random. In recent months, the U.S. Air Force announced plans—twice—to transfer most of its F-16s from Kunsan to Osan Air Base to form two “super squadrons” of fighters. The first announcement was made in July of last year, when the Air Force revealed plans to relocate up to 31 aircraft to Osan, located just 80 kilometers from the DMZ. Last week, it was reported that the remaining F-16s would also be transferred to complete the formation of the second super squadron at Osan. This move would free up considerable space at Kunsan for the potential deployment of fifth-generation fighters.
Additionally, the U.S. F-35s would not operate alongside forces unfamiliar with the platform, as South Korea has also acquired its own F-35As. As of today, the Republic of Korea Air Force operates 39 aircraft from the original batch of 40 ordered from Washington; one unit was retired in 2023 following a serious accident. Moreover, according to local reports, South Korea is seeking to acquire 20 more F-35As to expand its fleet.
Finally, even before any official confirmation, South Korean analysts are closely monitoring the potential adverse reaction from North Korea. As the country’s primary geopolitical threat, such a reaction would not be surprising. However, the balance of air power remains heavily tilted in favor of Seoul. As reported late last year, Pyongyang continues to await a potential delivery of Russian MiG-29s and Su-27s to renew its aging fleet, which is still composed mainly of MiG-17s, MiG-19s, and MiG-21s—none of which can match the capabilities of South Korea’s F-16s, F-15Ks, and F-35s.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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