A ROKAF KF-16D(pic below) crashed into the West(Yellow) Sea yesterday during a nightime training mission. The ROKAF dispatched a transport and two helicopters to the area in order to search for survivors, but still no sign of the two pilots.
Including this incident, five KF-16s, out of a total force of 140, have crashed since 1997. This IMO, is a serious issue, because at this rate, the ROKAF is losing one KF-16 every two years and considering that this type forms the backbone of the fighter force, one cannot help but be concerned about the combat readiness of the ROKAF.
Let’s hope and pray for the safe return of the two pilots.
UPDATE After an extensive search by the ROKAF, Navy, Coast Guard, and the USFK, parts of the fuselage and the ejection seats has been found. No final word on the fate of the pilots, but the ROKAF is assuming that they went down with their aircraft.
16 Comments
If I remember correctly, there was a scandal the last time this happened because funding had been diverted from the maintenance of these very aircraft.
(head-shaking . . . )
First, though it doesn’t look too promising, I hope the pilots were able to survive. However, in terms of equipment, I think there are always going to be aircraft losses like this. I think Canada started using F-18s (CF-18) in 1982 or 1983, and out of a total of around 140 ordered, we’ve lost almonst twenty of them, all in training missions, etc - none in combat. I don’t know if KF-16 losses are higher or lower than normal, but five planes in a decade doesn’t sound all that bad.
As you mentioned, Korea still has well over a hundred F-16s, and is in the process of acquiring about 40 F-15Ks, supposedly with more to be ordered later, and still has many older F-4 and F-5 aircraft, which I would guess would be more than a match for Mig-21 and other older Soviet era planes that make up the bulk of an old and poorly maintained North Korean Airforce.
And, there are still quite a few American F-16s at Osan and Kunsan - not to mention F-15s and now F-22 Raptors in Japan - as insurance.
Talking with those who have a professional understanding of the F16’s use among America’s allies, I understand the ROK Air Force stands out with by far the highest failure rate — largely, if not entirely, resulting from inadequate maintenance of a very highly sophisticated piece of equipment. The good news is that even with a plane dropping from the sky every two years, there is still a lot more of them flying than what the North is capable of launching at a given moment.
The bad news though is that the F16s in the air (like the one that crashed) in South Korea are the ones that are “operable.” Too many are sitting on the ground, results of cannibalism. I hope this gives further pressure to revamp the maintenance program in the ROK Air Force. It needs a drastic overhaul.
I am just curious, but why would Korea need a jet other than the F-16? I thought it is sufficient to squash anything the Nork’s could fly and flexible enough to engage in a variety of missions to meet denfensive capabilities.
“I am just curious, but why would Korea need a jet other than the F-16? I thought it is sufficient to squash anything the Nork’s could fly and flexible enough to engage in a variety of missions to meet denfensive capabilities.”
The North Koreans would be no match for them in the air, so I guess Korea is thinking about the capabilities of other neighbors - ie. China and Japan - who they might regard as future potential adversaries. The F-15, in addition to being a top notch air superiority fighter, has a superior range to the F-16.
The reason for acquiring “a jet other than the F-16″ is for strike capability. The F-16, when piloted effectively is superior to anything the Norks have for air-to-air combat, however, it has nowhere near the ability of the F-15E, which is what the F-15K is based on, for dropping large numbers of precision guided munitions. After taking care of the air threat, the South Korean Air Force would like the ability to hit targets on the ground more effectively. I just hope they take better care of the 15K’s then they have the 16’s.
I should state too, the F-15K is absolutely not designed for A2A combat. It will in fact only carry defensive A2A missiles and its systems were not designed for Area defense.
This is another “at night, over water mishap”. Ask any military pilot, Navy Air Force, about ACM training at night over water….
Since the crew’s safe recovery has not been reported in the news, it probably won’t be.
ROK Air Force maintenance shortfalls might be an issue here. But it may well be that they were training at the edge of the envelope. Which is what any competent professional will do. Risk be damned!
My sympathies go out to their families.
You are correct, ROKAF’s current fleet of 132 F/KF-16C/Ds are more than enough to deal with the North Koreans. Even if the ROKAF decided to retire its F-4s and 5s, the ROKAF will have more capable and flyable fighters than the KPAAF while reducing the fighter force to a single type will help matters in terms of reduced upkeep costs and maintenance.
But as globalvillageidiot stated, the ROKAF is more worried about the JASDF and the PLAAF than the KPAAF. Which is why it is buying the F-15K and planning to buy the F-35A in the 2015 ~ 20 timeframe.
There’s also the issue of numbers. For some reason, the ROKAF believes that it should maintain a 350 plane fighter force of several types, which is why it is not phasing out its F-4s and 5s. Which IMO, I find strange because as I stated earlier the KF/F-16s are more than enough. What I also find strange is the ROKAF’s unwillingness to upgrade its F-4s and 5s with new avionics considering that they made a conscious decision of keeping them way past their prime.
Anyways, what the above policy has resulted is an increased maintainence burden, and judging from the recent scandal, the ROKAF has not been able to hack it.
South Korea seeks to get F-22 Raptor:
http://english.peopledaily.com.....70656.html
FQ #11, the South Koreans only want it because Japan will have something better, and it’s a blow to the Korean inferiority complex (especially versus Japan). Their response that they may not buy the F15 if Japan gets the F22 is an emotional, temper-tantrum response.
You don’t hear Koreans screaming that they need the B-2 bomber. Besides, if they can’t maintain F16’s, they surely won’t be able to maintain F22’s.
The problem here is they do not train this mission in the simulator. They get out over the water at night, get vertigo, and pull the aircraft up into the ocean. It is a preventable accident.
#12
South Koreans do not have inferiority complex toward Japan. South Korea, like China does, expects that there could be a possible military confrontation with Japan in the future based on the past experiences. This is arguably a practical, not emotional, reason for South Korea to want to get F-22. If Japan gets F-22, then why South Korea would want to purchase F-15 instead of F-22?
I have been told by those who are very familiar with these incidents that it is not so much a case of poor maintanance but as one person said before, it’s more about poor training. I have also been told that pilots have been doing things they “should be doing” when flying these things. (Read between the lines on that cryptic reponse - your guess is as good as mine.)
Sorry…I mean to say things they “shouldn’t be doing…”
My bad.