Seoul showcases F-35A stealth jets for 1st time
President Moon Jae-in inspects an F-35A stealth fighter in its first public display, along with other representative weapons from the ROK Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, during the 71st Armed Forces Day event held at the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing base in Daegu, Tuesday. On Moon's left is Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. Yonhap
An F-35A is showcased on the ground at the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing base in Daegu, Tuesday to mark the 71st Armed Forces Day. Yonhap
- 71st Armed Forces Day event held at Air Force's Daegu base - Seoul condemns Tokyo's summoning South Korean officials over F-15Ks' Dokdo patrol
By Jung Da-min
South Korea showcased its newly-acquired F-35 stealth fighters for the first time to mark Armed Forces Day, Tuesday, as President Moon Jae-in attempted to refute concerns that his engagement-centric policy with North Korea has weakened the country's firm commitment to defense.
The President marked the 71st Armed Forces Day, commemorating the founding of the military, at a ceremony at the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing in Daegu, which also showcased four of the eight Lockheed Martin F-35 jets delivered this year. Forty of the jets are set to be delivered by 2021.
One of them was on the ground and the other three flew past as part of an air review.
After arriving at the Daegu base in a South Korea-developed Surion helicopter, President Moon, escorted by Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, inspected weapons used by the ROK Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, including the F-35A.
The F-35s have been a primary target for North Korean media condemnation as they put the North's outdated anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense systems in a weak position. The North said the development of its new missiles was to “completely destroy” the threat from these, claiming the deployment of the jets was a “breach” of the Sept. 18 Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) reached between the two Koreas last year.
Pyongyang's U.N. Ambassador Kim Song blamed the United States for the impasse in the denuclearization dialogue between the United States and the North, Tuesday (KST), urging Washington to show a “new way” in advancing the nuclear disarmament talks.
The Republic of Korea Air Force's F-35A stealth fighters fly over the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing base in Daegu, Tuesday, as part of an air review during the 71st Armed Forces Day Ceremony. Yonhap
The conventional takeoff and landing F-35A Lightning II that provides next-generation stealth is able to fly at a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 with range of more than 1,350 miles (2,172 kilometers). Its maximum takeoff weight is around 70,000 pounds.
Other South Korean fighter jets currently in service including F-15K, manufactured for the ROKAF by U.S. Boeing and KF-16 and FA-50, both produced by Korea Aerospace Industries with U.S. Lockheed Martin, were also shown during the military ceremony.
Four F-15Ks, in particular, were scrambled to the north, south, east and west to demonstrate how they are used to protect in all directions, including areas near the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo. They arrived at their mission sites within 20 minutes from their departure and made live reports of their mission performance from each during the ceremony.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense summoned, respectively, a South Korean diplomat and a defense attache to express regret over the South Korean jets' flying over Dokdo, saying it was “unacceptable.” Japan has been making a territorial claim over the Dokdo islets calling them Takeshima. Seoul's defense ministry immediately issued a strong protest, saying such a claim by Tokyo did not deserve notice, as Dokdo is owned by South Korea “historically, geographically and by international law.”
The Republic of Korea Air Force's F-15K demonstrates its airspace protection mission during a 71st Armed Forces Day ceremony held at the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing in Daegu, Tuesday. Four F-15Ks were scrambled in four directions for a demonstration of their mission in each area. Yonhap
Moon also gave awards to the U.S. 7th Air Force ― stationed in South Korea ― along with 10 South Korean military units during the ceremony, in recognition of the USFK's contribution to the military alliance between the United States and South Korea.
The ceremony ended with the arrival of the four scrambled F-15Ks at the beginning of it, with the pilots saluting Moon.
Republic of Korea Air Force's F-15K fighter jets arrive at the Air Force's 11th fighter base in Daegu, Tuesday, after a demonstration of their airspace protection missions during the 71st Armed Forces Day event. Yonhap
About 2,300 South Korean citizens participated in the event at the base, the defense ministry said.
Other weapons displayed on the day included the Air Force's E-737 Peace Eye airborne early warning and control aircraft, the KC-330 Cygnus air-to-air fueling and transport aircraft and Patriot PAC-3 missile interceptor, and the Navy's P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft.
The Army's ATACMS surface-to-surface missile, K-239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system, M-SAM (medium-range surface-to-air missile), Hyunmoo-3 cruise missile, Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile, K9 Thunder howitzer and other weapons were also on display.
President Moon Jae-in, standing in the middle car, inspects weapons of the Republic of Korea Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force escorted by Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, during the 71st Armed Forces Day ceremony held at the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing base in Daegu, Tuesday.
Other performances by the Armed Forces service members including a Taekwondo performance with K-pop songs by Army's Ground Operations Command, various performances by the military band and honor guard which consist of Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force, a traditional Modeumbuk drums performance and an Arirang with dance performance added fun of the military event.
"This year's Armed Forces Day ceremony is being held at the Air Force's 11th Fighter Wing base. It is more meaningful that we could show our military's strong force and perfect readiness at this base for elite troops in the year that marks the 70th anniversary of foundation of the ROKAF," Defense Minister Jeong said during his speech at the ceremony.
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo noted the ROKAF's prompt response to a Russian plane, which briefly violated South Korea's airspace near Dokdo in July. The ROKAF's F-15K and KF-16 fighters were scrambled and fired 360 warning shots.