Korea strengthens stealth fighter fleet with purchase of 20 additional F-35As

A Republic of Korea Air Force F-35A stealth fighter jet takes off during defensive counter air drills, Aug. 21. Courtesy of ROK Air Force

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has officially signed a deal to acquire 20 additional F-35A stealth jets as part of the second phase of its next-generation fighter jet program, according to the state-run arms procurement agency, Wednesday.

A letter of acceptance was signed Dec. 8, following the U.S. approval of the sale in September.

The procurement, conducted under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, builds upon Korea's previous acquisition of 40 F-35As in the first phase between 2019 and 2022.

However, the Air Force has decided to retire one stealth fighter that was seriously damaged by a bird strike in January 2022.

According to DAPA, the newly signed jets, scheduled for delivery starting in 2027, will feature substantial enhancements in threat response capabilities, encryption and security functionalities and armed operational capacities compared to their predecessors.

The additional F-35As boast a 1.5-fold increase in internal armament capacity compared to earlier versions and can be equipped with cutting-edge armaments such as laser-guided GBU-56 (L-JDAM) precision-guided bombs.

"The F-35A stealth fighter is operational not only in our Air Force but also in 17 other countries, totaling over a thousand stealth jets. It is a proven high-performance aircraft," a DAPA official said.

DAPA said preparations are underway for projects aimed at further improving the performances of the F-35A aircraft already procured in the first phase of the program.