U.S. military considering permanent deployment of F-35 fighter jets to Korea

The U.S. military is considering the permanent deployment of advanced F-35A radar-evading fighter jets to South Korea, a source said Sunday.

The deployment, if realized, would mark a major addition to U.S. air assets in South Korea, which consist mostly of older-generation F-16 fighter jets. F-35s have previously only been temporarily deployed for joint training.

“The U.S. military has a concept of permanently deploying F-35As at Kunsan Air Base,” the source said. “It will first deploy one squadron, and there is a possibility of rotationally deploying another squadron.”

A squadron is an Air Force unit made up of around 20 aircraft.

In July last year, the U.S. 7th Air Force in South Korea announced the relocation of nine F-16s from Kunsan Air Base to Osan Air Base to establish a “Super Squadron” of 31 fighter jets at Osan Air Base.

The 7th Air Force said last week it will also relocate most remaining F-16s from Kunsan Air Base to Osan Air Base in October for another “Super Squadron,” a move that will make Osan Air Base home to 62 F-16s.

The 7th Air Force said the Kunsan Air Base will operate as a “primary exercise and rotational force bed-down location” for U.S. air component forces in South Korea.

When asked about the possible deployment of F-35As at Kunsan Air Base, a 7th Air Force official said nothing has been decided.

F-35s are considered to be capable of flying deep into enemy territory without being detected. South Korea currently operates 39 F-35As and plans to acquire 20 more.

North Korea has often reacted angrily to the deployment of key U.S. military assets to South Korea, accusing Washington of raising tensions.

Yonhap