While much of the attention in recent years has been focused on the development and production of the new KAI KF-21 Boramae, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has also been making steady progress in other capability enhancement programs. In particular, the one centered on upgrading 134 of its KF-16 Fighting Falcon fighters to the Block 72 Viper standard, with confirmation last September that the flight simulators will also be brought up to the same new configuration.
One of the most modern and significant fleets in Asia:
As of today, the Republic of Korea Air Force is one of the main F-16 operators in the Asian continent. The aircraft were introduced in several batches involving local aerospace industry participation, a process that dates back to the early 1980s. At that time, the backbone of South Korea’s combat aviation relied on various U.S.-origin models such as the F-4 Phantom II—retired from service in June 2024—and the F-5 Tiger II, which needed to be complemented and eventually replaced by a more capable platform.
Through successive agreements with the United States, known as Peace Bridge I, II, and III, South Korea acquired several batches of F-16 fighters in different blocks, totaling an estimated fleet of 180 aircraft. Under Peace Bridge I, the ROKAF became the first international operator of the then-new F-16C/D models coming straight off U.S. production lines, corresponding to the Block 32 configuration. This initial batch consisted of 36 aircraft.
Later, following the failed acquisition of F/A-18 Hornet fighters under the F-X Program in late 1989, the South Korean government decided to procure a new batch of more advanced F-16s, with the condition that they be locally produced. Thus began the formation of the current KF-16 Block 52 fleet operated by the Air Force.
The agreements under the Peace Bridge II Program included the acquisition of 120 new Block 52 fighters equipped with the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine. Of these, 12 were produced by Lockheed Martin, while 36 aircraft were assembled in South Korea. The remaining 72 F-16s were fully produced domestically by Samsung Aerospace and officially designated as KF-16s, covering the entire batch included in Peace Bridge II.
This was a significant milestone, as although production was led by Samsung Aerospace, several local subcontractors—such as Daewoo and Korean Air—also joined the program, establishing the foundation for future South Korean combat aircraft development projects.
Following the rollout and initial deliveries of this batch in 1997, Seoul moved forward in 2000 with its last F-16 acquisition to date, known as Peace Bridge III. This batch consisted of 20 locally produced F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft, this time manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
With a consolidated fleet in service, the decision was later made to pursue targeted modernization programs. Among them stands out the U.S. Department of State’s approval for the upgrade of 134 aircraft to the Block 72 configuration—popularly known by Lockheed Martin as the F-16V.
Although the program has faced delays, with the first upgraded F-16D (serial 92-4046) conducting its maiden test flight in February 2021 at Edwards Air Force Base in the United States, reports indicate it is expected to be completed by 2025. However, no further official information has been released.
New agreements with Lockheed Martin:
In this context, Lockheed Martin’s recent announcement in September confirmed that the Republic of Korea Air Force will proceed with upgrading its F-16 flight simulators to the Block 72 standard, signaling continued progress in the KF-16 modernization program.
According to the U.S. company, it will “upgrade the Republic of Korea Air Force’s F-16 Block 52 flight simulators to reflect the advanced capabilities of its modernized F-16 Viper (F-16V) aircraft. These enhancements will boost the ROKAF’s operational capabilities by providing high-fidelity simulation environments that enable pilots to train as if they were actually flying.”
Regarding the scope and duration of the agreement, the company added: “Under a six-year contract, Lockheed Martin will provide new equipment and system integration to upgrade nine F-16 flight simulators at Seosan and Chungju air bases to the F-16V configuration, along with continued support through contracted logistics services.”
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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