The ROK Air Force is apparently pushing a plan to construct a strategic air field on the southern island of Jeju-do by 2014. While the Air Force says it has yet to decide what planes it will base there or what their mission will be, an anonymous military analyst told the Hanguk Ilbo that in addition to anti-submarine patrol craft and early warning craft, it was possible the service would station F-15Ks at the base (something the Air Force is currently denying, citing expected opposition from China and Japan). The F-15K has a maximum combat radius of 1,800 km, although this can be extended with the use of airborne refueling craft.
Opposition is expected from environmental groups, however. The Navy had to shelve plans to build a base at Hwasun harbor due to opposition from local residents, and environmental and civic groups in Jeju are already planning to actively oppose the construction of an air force base on their island should public discussion of the project begin.
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5 Comments
The forward base for the Great Dokdo War.
I thought it was common knowledge that Jeju was getting the F-15s. I was unsuccessful finding anything with Google, but I’ve seen a map somewhere plainly stating the 40 F-15s would be on Jeju (it showed all the other deployments as well). I didn’t realize the Chinese or Japanese had any say as to where they are placed.
Clearly, the objective is to patrol the shipping lanes.
The ROKAF has been planing to put aircraft on Cheju-do for years before the delivery of the F-15K’s. With the range of the F-15 it matters not where they hail from on the ROK.
Hey Marmot, I am surprised you did not key in on the F-15K that spalshed last night!
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