The ROKAF’s Black Eagles aerobatic
team received ten T-50Bs in early 2010.
Unfortunately, one T-50B together with its
pilot was lost in an accident at Wonju on
November 15, 2012. A further two T-50Bs
were delivered to the team during 2015. A
second Black Eagles T-50B was lost on take-
off at the Singapore Airshow on February 5
this year. The pilot suffered minor injuries.
To replace the Hawk Mk67 in the lead-
in fighter training (LIFT) role, the ROKAF
received 22 examples of the TA-50, effectively
an armed version of the T-50. They have
served the 115th Flight Training Squadron
(FTS) at Yecheon AB since 2011.
A further 20 TA-50s were ordered last year
with deliveries scheduled to commence
in 2019. The latest batch of TA-50s will
most likely be used to replace the F-5E/
Fs of the training squadron at Gwangju.
Indigenous attack
A further development of the T-50 is the
FA-50 light attack aircraft, purchased to
replace the A-37B and part of the F-5E/F
fleet. Compared with the TA-50, the FA-50
has a slightly longer radome, improved
avionics, more internal fuel and an extensive
radar warning receiver (RWR) suite. In all,
60 FA-50s were ordered to equip the 202nd
Fighter Squadron (FS) at Yecheon as well
as two squadrons (103rd and 203rd FS)
at Wonju. The FA-50 is capable of using
precision-guided weapons including the
AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile and
GBU-38 JDAM. Total deliveries of T-50-
family aircraft to the ROKAF currently stand
at 144, with 20 more TA-50s on order.
The KA-1, an armed version of the KT-1,
is another indigenous product employed
by the air arm. It offers light attack and
forward air control capabilities and can also
be used to aid combat search and rescue
(CSAR) efforts. The 20 KA-1s in use were
delivered in 2005 and are based at Wonju.Multinational helicopters
The ROKAF’s diverse helicopter fleet consists
of two AS332L Super Pumas, three Bell
412s, three VCH-92s, five HH-47Ds, five
CH-47Ds, seven Kamov HH-32As, as well
as around 25 HH-60P and VH-60P Black
Hawks. The two squadrons at Cheongju
mainly have a CSAR role, while the 296th
Squadron at Seoul’s Seongnam AB operates
the VCH-92 and VH-60P VIP helicopters.
The Kamovs are also used as firefighters
utilising a ‘bolt-on’ system. The ROKAFwould like to bring its fleet of ten Chinooks
up to CH-47F standard and it is anticipated
a contract will be signed this year.
The ROKAF received four examples of the
C-130J-30 in 2014, to supplement its fleet
of 12 C-130Hs. The smaller CN235 has
been in use since the early 1990s; 12 CASA-
built CN235-100s were followed by eight
CN235-220s, including two VIP aircraft,
manufactured by IPTN of Indonesia. The
CN235 fleet was updated with an Israeli-
designed airborne electronic warfare suite
and missile warning system during 2011.
The fleet of transports is divided between
Seongnam AB in Seoul and Gimhae AB in
the south. The largest aircraft in ROKAF
service – a Boeing 747 on long-term lease
from Korean Air – is also based at Seongnam.
It entered military service during 2010 and
received a military serial in March 2012.
Finally, a Boeing 737 and two BAe 748s are
available for VIP transport at Seongnam.
Should the cold war between the two
Koreas turn hot, there is no doubt which of
the two has the better equipped air force.
With superior equipment and training, the
ROKAF clearly has the edge, but that doesn’t
mean it will come away unscathed should
another war on the Korean peninsula erupt.First delivered in April 1974, two examples of the
BAe 748 soldier on in the VIP transport role with
the 296th Squadron at Seongnam AB.Should the ‘cold war’ on the Korean peninsula turn hot, the fl eet of 20 KA-1s could prove invaluable. The
type can assist in CSAR efforts by locating downed aircrew, or can carry AIM-9 Sidewinders and gun pods to
counter North Korea’s large fl eet of special forces An-2s that will undoubtedly try to cross the border.
http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #364 JULY 2018 // 61
AFM