Air Force
During peacetime, the Hankook Kong Gon (Republic of Korea Air Force, or RoKAF) constantly keeps an eye on the enemy and maintains a high level of combat readiness at all times, which allows it to immediately retaliate against the enemy should it launch provocations. During war, the tasks of the air force are: to acquire air superiority and thus prevent the enemy from flying to neutralize the enemy's will by destroying its main and potential war power; and supporting the ground and naval forces' operations.
The air force operates aircraft equipped with precision-guided munitions and long-range air-to-air missiles. It also has a joint air-ground-sea operation system that provides close air support for ground and naval forces.
The air force supported army counterinsurgency programs with twenty-three Cessna A-37 aircraft, used as forward air controllers, but which could also be used in ground attack. Eight Northrop F-5s and twelve McDonnell Douglas F-4s were equipped solely for reconnaissance. A total of fifteen Bell UH-1B and UH1H helicopters were available for search-and-rescue operations.
Since 1974, the ROK Air Force has spent more than 20 percent of the total defense procurement budget. One of the most significant projects has been the Korea Fighter Program, which is the ROKAF's program for developing its own advanced fighter planes.
During the 1980s, the air force modernization program focused primarily on the formation and deployment of twelve new fighter aircraft squadrons and the establishment of an automated air defense network. In December 1989, the Ministry of National Defense selected the McDonnell Douglas FA-18 to be the second United Statesdesigned fighter aircraft to be coproduced in South Korea. Samsung's aerospace division was awarded a contract to manufacture the airframe and engine; Lucky-Goldstar became the subcontractor for the aircraft's avionics. McDonnell Douglas agreed to deliver twelve FA-18s to the South Korean air force in 1993 and to assist Samsung with the later assembly of 108 aircraft in South Korea. As of 1990, the entire FA-18 program was under review because of increased costs. Korean Air used its depot maintenance facilities at Kimhae to overhaul most types of aircraft in service with the South Korean air force. Additionally, the United States Air Force contracted with Korean Air for the maintenance of its F-4, F-15, A-10, and C-130 aircraft stationed in South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
The F-16 provided South Korea with an aircraft believed to be technologically superior to similarly designed communist aircraft, including the Soviet-produced MiG-29, the most sophisticated aircraft employed by the North Korean air force. South Korea-United States coproduction of F-5 aircraft demonstrated the resolve of South Korean military planners to promote a defense industry that simultaneously utilized advanced United States technology while enhancing indigenous efforts both at establishing an aviation industry and increasing access to Western technology.
The Defense Ministry plans an ambitious defense improvement program that includes a next-generation fighter program, purchases of attack helicopters, surface-to-air missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Among the candidates for the fighter project were Rafale of France, Eurofighter being produced by a European consortium, F-15 of the US and Russia's Sukhoi-35. The Ministry of Industry and Resources, the aerospace industry, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and even the Ministry of National Defense favored the continuation of the F-16 for budgetary and industrial policy reasons. But the ROK Air Force called for foreign acquisition of a next generation fighter. After fierce bureaucratic battles, both parties reached a compromise in which production of a limited number of F-16s and foreign acquisition of a next generation fighter were to be simultaneously pursued without undercutting the air force budget.
