Republic of Korea

The F-35 Lightning II for Republic of Korea

The Republic of Korea faces a unique threat environment. No other fighter aircraft in the world is better equipped to ensure the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) can maintain regional security stability than the 5th Generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter. Since joining the program in 2014 as a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) customer for their F-X III fighter program, the Republic of Korea has taken delivery of 40 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (COTL) aircraft.

Base Location

Program Milestones

2014: The Republic of Korea concluded its FX-III fighter acquisition program and selected the F-35

2018: The first ROKAF F-35A, known as AW-1, took flight in Fort Worth, TX

2018: First ROKAF F-35A delivered to Luke AFB, Arizona for pilot training

2019: First F-35As were delivered to their permanent base at Cheongju Air Base

2023: ROKAF announced an additional 20 F-35A aircraft to their program of record