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            대한민국 공군 - KHANGUK KONG GOON -  REPUBLIC OF KOREA AIR FORCE

                          Last update 14-06-2022

            Credit:  Roundels of the world

Bases
                               

Continous tension with North Korea, erupting in an almost state of war, and the friendship with the United States of America influence heavily this country.

Procurement

In 1964 the USA proposed to withdraw a Division stationed in Korea; to sweaten the matter to the Korean goverment it was proposed (among others) to supply the 6th Tactical Squadron with Northrop F-5A. The
withdrawal was suspended.

A first tentative procurement of a new fighter to replace North Amrican F-86 Sabre started in 1965 with the plan to operate Lockheed F-104Gs starting from 1965 to counter North Korean MiG-19 and MiG-21, but
complexity and USA military aid policy allowed only the supply of the Freedom Fighter, which was later introduced.

A total of 88 Northrop F-5A and 20 Northrop F-5B were supplied under MAP between 1965 and 1972, another 16 F-5B were bought directly.
Military Assistance Program (MAP) F-5As were granted in following US Fiscal Years:  1963 - 29; 1964 - 3; 1965 - 17; 1966 - 5; 1967 - 14; 1968 - 6; 1970 - 3; 1971 - 10; one is unaccounted.  By mid-68 there were
a total of 54 Northrop F-5s in the country.

Pilot training started during 1964 when 4 instructors were trained in the USA, while deliveries of F-5s Freedom Fighters began in 05 April 1965; they replaced North American F-86Fs.Transported to South Korea (fully
fueled and armed, wrapped in plastic) by ship. First 20 were unloaded at Jinhae Port port and flown out from the local base. Official Korrean take-over was on 30-04-65 at Suwon AB.

        frame 1
Northrop F-5A 13308 FA-308 in US markings with a full tanks load before delivery.                                  Northrop F-5B 11034 ju June 1972 at Dulles airport before delivery                                                                      

                                                                       frame §    
                                                                            Cocooned Northrop F-5A unloaded from a US small aircraft carrier at Pusan port

          frame 1        Photo: KTV
  Early Wing 10 Northrop F-5B seen at Suwon on 30-04-65 together with serial 38404                            Lineup of Northrop F-5A and Northrop F-5B at hand-over on 30-04-65

                                                                        
                                                                      Republic of Korea AF pilots being trained by an USAF instructoron, Northrop F-5B 63-8448A

                                                                                  Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast
                                                                                       Late, camouflaged Northrop F-5B before delivery, serial 20447

By Jamuary 1966 30 Northrop F-5A and 4 Northrop F-5B were operational.

The Republic of Korea AF planned originally to buy McDonnell RF-4E for reconnaissance purposes, but the plan was abandoned and 8 Northrop RF-5A were purchased in US Fiscal Year 1971; a former Republic of
Vietnam AF example was added when this contry collapsed.

The war in Vietnam brought on 28-10-72 an US request to transfer 48 Northrop F-5As to South Vietnam, under operation "Enhance Plus". These fighters were to be replaced by Northrop F-5Es as soon as they were
to be available.
Korea did not agree to this and requested the delivery of 18 McDonnel F-4D in exchange for the Freedom Fighters. Finally, a compromise offer was submitted, either to lease of 18 McDonnel F-4D or to base 2 USAF
McDonnel F-4 Squadrons locally for the air defence of the country. The first alternative was chosen by Korea; only 36 F-5A were transferred to South Vietnam, June 1972 saw the introduction of the reconnaissance
Northrop RF-5A.

Air Force Expansion
An important expansion of the Republic of Korea Air Force envisaged beginninning 1970's by the Ministry of Defence plans to include 10 Squadrons of fighter/interceptors, met with the scheduled delivery of
72 Northrop F-5E.
Further studies (by the Air Force itself in  1973, by the US Commander in Chief Pacific and an USA/Korean committee in 1974) stated that additional Squadrons with each a strength of 18 aircrafts were needed. It
foresaw the establishment of several new Squadrons, to be equipped with McDonnell F-4 and 126 Northrop F-5E, 9 Northrop F-5F (later to be increased to 20 F-5F),

First seven Northrop F-5E were officially introduced on 27-08-74, final 5 of 72 MAP financed were delivered by mid 1979; at least four F-5E were seen at Williams AFB August 1974 in USAF markings (possibly with 425th
Squadron) to train Korean pilots.

                                                                                Photo: Northrop
                                                                                Early, Northrop built F-5E 01493 with SEA camouflage on a test flight in USA.

In June 1974 an oral request was made to the USA for direct purchase from Northrop (instead of co-production) of 54 single- and 6 double-seaters, 30 aircrafts to be delivered during calender year 1977, an written
request to be sent shortly after. The additional Tigers were to be paid partially under Foreingn Military Fund and the rest by the country.

Interest was also shown for  21 "second hand" Tigers flown out of South Vietnam as add-on to the already scheduled 72 Northrop F-5Es to be delivered via MAP, scheduled to start in February 1976. These
ex-Vietnamese Tigers might have reduced the number of new aircrafts needed (see above).

Also considered was the possibility to divert to Korea, instead to the Republic of China, 21 new aircrafts originally foreseen for S. Vietnam  (which collapsed). The total of 42 (21 ex SVN/21 new) Northrop F-5Es might
have caused maintenance and financing problems.

All three plans had no follow-on

By April 1976 there were following types on hand: 71 Northrop F-5A, 8 RF-5A, 26 F-5B, 48 F-5E; 2 additional F-5A and 1 RF-5A were foreseen for 1976 delivery (ex Vietnam) together with 8 F-5B bought under Project
Peace Needle as well as 25 Northrop F-5E Tigers (of which 21 originally foreseen for Korea but diverted to China under Vietnam Project Enhance Plus). Foreseen to be delivered during the years 1977 and 1978 were each
27 F-5E and 3 F-5F (these last three under Project Peace Freedom).

According to an official US list funding was provided for the Security Assistance Program FY 1976 (or previously) 2 Northrop RF-5A, 12 F-5A, 3 F-5B. Another source states that 28 Northrop F-5A, 10 Northrop F-5B
were funded.
Reports mention that altogether 21 (or 19) F-5A  Freedom Fighter (including former Korean and other nations) used by the Vietnamese AF were returned at the end of the conflict (1975). Fourteen serials are known.

                                                                                Photo: R.o.Korea AF
                                                                    Air-to-air view of camouflagedNorthrop F-5B serial 42-114 shortly before its withdrawal from use

Withdrawal of the Northrop F-5A/F-5B Freedom Fighter was completed only during the year 2005.

frame 1                       
Line-up of camouflaged Northrop F-5B (nearest) and Northrop F-5A (unfortunaley black-and-white photo)    Northrop F-5A 01386 seen towards of  the end of its carrier, with new grey camouflage
                                                                                                                                                               Photos: R.o.Korea AF

                                                                         frame 1       Photo: R.o.Korea AF
                                                                                               Camouflaged Northrop F-5A, serial 63-8434

During FY 1976 and 1977 Military Assistance Program funds were granted to install Radar Warning Receivers (RWR) on about half of the existing Tigers and others to be built (Project Peace Home) to increase survival
capability. Remaining RWR were paid by Korea.

          
                Northrop F-5E sjust delivered to South Korea          Photo: R.Korea AF        Northrop F-5E 50-461 with early camouflage/serial and AIM-9 at Osan AB open day  Photo: unknown

 The USA was mainly responsible for financing the Korean defence effort until FY 1976; an official US list funded the Security Assistance Program show by FY 1976 (and previously) 54 Northrop built F-5E, 20 F-5F.

On 21-05-80 a Joint Chiefs Staff emergency document mentions that Cheongju AFB based Northrop F-5s were transferred to Daegu AFB (11th Wing ), nach Yecheon AFB (18th Wing ) and Suwon AFB (19 Wing)
due to security problems. Nineteen bombs armed 19 Kwangju AFB based Northrop F-5As single-seater and 4 Northrop F-5Bs double-seaters prepared to leave from Kwangju AFB and join the Suwon Wing but
this order was revoked on the same day.

                                                                        
                                                                         Northrop built Northrop F-5E with underwing tanks, Sindewinders and exercise bomblets
                                                                         launcher seen landing.

US statics showed in 1982 a total strength of 254 Northrop F-5A/F-5B/F-5E/F-5F. The Air Force had a slight superiority over the People's Republic of Korea AF due to better fighters and pilots training but had
shortages as only 7 days of operations, of ammunitions, fuel and spare parts were available. According to an US source there were, by 2004, a total of 260 aircrafts in service.

                                                                   
        First Northrop built F-5F delivered, used as Target Tug with AIM-9 Sidewinders in 1990.                                  Northrop F-5E 50521 Sidewinders on wingtips, bombs underwing, tank underfuselage

Typhoon "Rusa" raged on the Base in September 2002 damaging several local based aircrafts, except 10 Tigers. An enormous amount of maintenace was involved to restore the base to operation; other Tigers were
flooded and personnel from other units, as well as American personnell, wasneeded to overhaul and assemble them.

Involvement of local Industry/Upgrade
A first attempt for local production was made in 1974 when three US aircrafts companies competed for co-assembly/local production of a new fighter. The Korean government selected in 1975 the Northrop F-5E,
(though the original request was for General Dynamics F-16 or Chance-Vought A-7, authorisation refused by the USA government) for anacquisition of 60 fighters; a Northrop team had confirmed  in July-August 1974
the fully feasibility of Korean manufacture. First production roll-off was to be about September 1977, final aircraft produced by approximately March 1980. But any final decision was postponed.

On 08-02-75 a new move by the Korean Government showed its intention to assemble 60 Northrop F-5 and co-produce small portion of these. Planned first production roll.off about September 1977 and production
completed in or about March 1980. 

Following an enormous industrial development Korea was able to start building aircrafts under licence, taking over the costs of defence starting from FY 1977 through US Foreign Military Sales and commercial acquisitions.

At the 1st Defense Industry Promotion Expansion Conference held on August 26 1978 it was decided to produce a fighter locally. The "FX Planning Group” was formed and a request to build General Dynamics F-16
under licence was sent to the US Government in 1979. The authorisation was refused, offering instead co-production of Northrop F-5s with full logistic support and production tooling, training and technical assistance.

On 01-07-79 the government definitely selected the Northrop F-5 Tiger; a request to manufacture was sent to the US Government the same year and from September 1979 negotiations started with Northrop. On
October 24, 1980, the U.S. government the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Republic of Korea and the USA was signed; on 14-11-80 a sales and license agreement was agreed between Northrop
and the Korean Ministry of Defence.

Korean Air signed an aircraft delivery contract on 27-12-80 with the procurement headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (called Programm Bridge). A team, including the "FX Planning Group” and the project promotion
Team worked for two years (from September 1979 to October 1981) to prepare co-assembly/local production of 40 Northrop F-5E and 20 Northrop  F-5F, for the cost of USD 140 millions. Aircraft equipment, technical
data and fixtures, which were difficult to produce in Korea, were directly purchased by the government from Northrop. Visual differences to the Northrop built aircrafts were: grey instead of black radome and missing
antenna on the tail.

frame 1   Tigers heads painted under cockpit on all Northrop/KAI KF-5E/KF-5F
Works started in 1981, the first Korean built aircraft (F-5F serial 81-00594), locally named KF-5E/F Chegong-Ho/Skymaster, made its first flight at the Gimhae Plant at Pusan belonging to Hanjin Corporation (a Korean
Air Lines company) on 09-09-82. Ther General Electric J-85 engines were assembled by Samsung Precision Industries, which had already overhauled them. The final aircraft/engine was delivered on 28-10-86 with a total
of 23% of Korean participation. All these new aircrafts had modified RWR, manufacturing licence rights for the ALR-85 (V) Radar Warning Receiver system to be installed on F-5s had been already granted on 04-08-99.

In February 1982 Korea requested to modify the mix of versions to 48 KAI/Northrop F-5E single-/double-seaters and 20 KF-5F; this amendement to the contract was signed on 23-11-82. Initial roll-out of a two-seater
was on 09-09-82. The final Korean built aircraft was delivered on 28-10-86.

                                                                                Jegongho inscription on nose
                                                                     First Korean built aircraft Northrop KF-5F in Korean national colours on roll-out.
                                                                     It received the standard geay camouflage on transfer to the Korean AF. Photo: Korean Air Lines

Interest in an upgrade of the Tigers to extend their operational life was shown in 1986; the programm began with trial installation in 1988 of an Honeywell H-423 laser INS and an GEC HUD/WAC on an F-5F. Included in
the specification were also a laser ranger, a data transfer system, plus (possibly) a new radar. Only space availability in the front was available and the project was without follow-on; anyhow, between March 2012
and May 2013, the original  USA built ejection seat on 180 Northrop F-5s was replaced by an British made one, between  March 2012 and May 2013, for a cost of  approximately 46 billion Won

Three Northrop F-5As were sold in September 1996 to the Philippines (delivered by ship) for a friendly price of USD 100.00 each, five additional followed in October 1998. This was in order to facilitate the sale of the new
KAI AF-50 attack aircraft/advanced trainer.

Paveway II and Paveway III laser guided bombs were bought to arm both the Northrop F-5E and MDonnell F-4s in 2003; improved air-to-air missiles AIM-9P were also bought.

frame 1           frame 1
Take-off line-up of 1 KAI/Northrop F-5E and 3 Northrop F-5E with underwing                                  Pilot seen on an Northrop F-5E                                        Photos: RO Korea AF
excercise bombs, 203 Squadron

In 2005 fighter pilot's training sequence was 79 primary flying hours on KAI KT-1, 60 on Northrop T-38, 44 on Northrop F-5E/F before going on to KAI KF-16.
That years' introduction of the KAI T-50 eliminated both intermediate steps on the Northrop T-38 and F-5E/F.
 
Development of an all-weather Korean GPS Guided Bomb (KGGB) 500 lbs bomb with a range of 100 km started in November 2007, carried under the wing of an aircraft, including KAI/Northrop F-5s. A Northrop F-5
was used for its development; the Korea AF introduced this arm in 2012 as only ground-ttack armament.

                                                                     frame 1          Development KGGB bomb. Photo RO Korea AF


 Life extension/trainer
Life extension of the remaining 27 Northrop F-5Bs and of the Northrop F-5Fs, adding a further 4'000 hours of fatigue life was considered in mid 1992. The Decision was postponed to October 1994 and later definitively
cancelled, taking consideration the development of a new Korean supersonic trainer; this last was in competition with a proposal by Daewoo Heavy Industries to mate a Northrop T-38A cockpit with an F-5A fuseselage
plus fitting new wings.

The completely new trainer, built by Korean Aerospace Industries and designated Korean Aerospace Industries KT-50 Golden Eagle, was finally chosen as an advanced trainer.
The introduction of this, digital equipment enabled direct transfer to KAI/General Dynamics KF-16 and Boeing F-15K; ll the others had to follow a CRT course on KAI/Northrop F-5s or to be assigned to McDonneel F-4s
units.
Replacement

                                                                                   Photo: R Korea AF
                                                        Northrop KF-5F 10-605 accompanying Sukhoi Su-37 "711" during its evaluation in Korea, March 1988, Who has details?

 Replacement of the Tiger was foreseen by a single-seater, light combat version (designated KAI FA-50) of the Korean trainer, but only an fighter/attack two-seater was definitely developed; it obtained again the
designation KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle.

First production order involving 20 aircrafts was signed in December 2011 for USD 600.00 millions, to be delivered between 2013 and completed by 2014.
A second order for USD 1.00 billion  followed in May 2013, deliveries of these began in 2013. The third order followed in 2017. A total of three Squadrons was to be re-equipped for (probably) a total of 60 light combat
aircrafts. (See units details)
                                                                                                  Photo: KAI
                                                               Prototype of the A-50 (designation later dropped, at present designated KAI FA-50) accompanied by F-5E 50507 and 00890.

After delivery of the first 8 KAI FA-50 a grounding order for all Tigers was issued due to the crash of one Northrop F-5E on 26-09-13. The order was lifted on 18-10-13; all 150 single- 34 double-seaters were returned to
flight status on 21-10-13. The cause for the crash was found to be poor maintenanance.

Good use of the engines from withdrawn from Nothrop F-5s was found in a new air bases snow-plogging machine, called "Majinga", together with bigger McDonnell F-4s engines, called "Big Majinga".

In April 2015 the 50th anniversary of Korean Air Force operation of Northrop F-5 (all versions) was commemorated, contemporarely all Northrop built Tigers were withdrawn from use. A total of 11 Northrop F-5s have
crashed between 2000 and 2010.

The excellence of Tiger operations was confirmed by 2019, when the fighter had won the Top Gun excercise 26 times, while the N. American F-86 only 21, the McDonnell F-4 only 16, the KAI/General Dynamics KF-16 only
11, the Boeing KF-16 only 11 and the General Dynamics F-16 only 5 times.           

Units operating KAI/Northrop F-5s in November 2018

The KAI/Northrop F-5 units are mainly deployed in the northern metropolitan area and Gangwon, due to its rapid reaction/excellent mobility and ability to fight successfully North Korean MG-19 and MiG-21; the more recent
McDonnel F-15K and Boeing F-35A are deployed in the southern part of the country due to the slower scramble time.

Suwon has two tenant Squadrons (101 Fighter Squadron and 201 Fighter Squadron) both operating Northrop KF-5E/F Jegpngho (translated as Sky master) produced under licence by Korean Air back in 80's; another
Squadron  (207th Squadron) flying with directly in USA manufactured aircrafts, disbanded due to its ageing fleet and subsequently replaced by an McDonnell F-4 Squadron in 2017. Visual difference between the Northrop
and KAI built aircrafts are: the colour of the radome: KAI/Northrop KF-5 gray, Northrop F-5s black and the shape of the tail fin (no antenna on the Northrop F-5s).

Approximately 50 KF-5E/KF-5F aircrafts remained in use by md-2020 with the 1st Fighter Wing/206 Squadron.


                                                                               Photo: bemjl/KODEF
                                                                                             Maintenance on an Northrop KF-5E of the 201st Fighter Squadron

                              frame 1 
Front view of a fully laden KAI/Northroporthrop  of a KF-5E    Photo: Defense Media Agency/Korea                         KAI/Northrop F-5E accompanied by all fighters/attack aircrafts used by the Korean AF

The latest licensed KF-5 is expected to continue its mission to protect Korean airspace beyond 2021 after changing the ejection seat and adding some electronic devices.

A new fighter built by Korea Aerospace (named KF-21 Boraemes) to replace the remaining KAI/Northrop F-5s and McDonnell F-4s is being developed, first prototype was unveiled on 09-04-21.

                                                                                  Photo: local media
                                                                   Unknown Northrop F-5E crashed on 11-02-22 (or 11-01-21?) after taking-off at Suwon AB.
                                                                   This was the twelvth F-5 crash since 2000.

Delivery of further 20 KAI F-50 foreseen starting in June 2023 was postponed, expected between 2024 and 2026, priority given to export ordes for 48 aircrafts by Poland and 12 by Malysia.