US Explores Possible Permanent Placement Of F-35A Stealth Fighter Jets In South Korea

F-16 fighter jets from 35th Fighter Squadron and 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base. (Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force/Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen)

JAKARTA - The United States military is considering permanent deployment of fifth-generation fighter jets with the ability to "stealth" the F-35A at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea to strengthen prevention against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, as well as counter the influence of China's region.

Local reports said the US plans to initially place a squadron at base in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, with the possibility of rotating an additional squadron through the base.

The fleet of fighter jets of the fourth generation of the US Armed Forces of Korea (USFK) will be consolidated at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, while Kunsan Air Base will host a newer F-35A.

The Air Force of the Republic of Korea is reportedly considering placing an additional 20 F-35As scheduled to be introduced in 2027 in Kunsan, potentially allowing the US and South Korean F-35s to jointly operate from the same location.

Currently, the US 7th Air Force has an F-16 squadron stationed at Kunsan's 8th Fighter Wing and Osan's 36th Combat Squadron. However, the F-16 is being fully moved to Osan Air Base.

Last July, the 7th Air Force announced the formation of its first "super-squadron" in Osan, which combines 31 F-16s previously stationed in Kunsan.

This week, they announced plans to move the remaining F-16s from Kunsan to Osan to build a second super squadron. When the transition is complete in October, Osan will host 62 F-16s, without any remaining F-16s in Kunsan.

The 7th Air Force said the reorganization aims to assess the effectiveness of combat by centralizing aircraft and personnel into larger formations. Despite these measures, Kunsan will continue to serve as the main location for US Air Force training and rotating deployments.

"The opportunity to exemplify readiness in the Indo-Pacific. Our flighters on the Wolf Pack show every day what it means to be deployed to the front lines and ready to fight tonight," said 8th Combat Wing Commander Colonel Peter Kasarskis, reported by The Korea Times April 28.

The F-16 relocation appears to be closely related to the potential placement of the F-35A wing to Kunsan. Usually, the fighting wing consists of two squadrons, each squadron consisting of about 20 aircraft.

Although the US F-35A has been deployed temporarily to the Korean Peninsula during the joint exercise, it will mark the country's first permanent deployment of squadron-level advanced jets. A USFK spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the ROK Air Force currently operates 39 F-35A, all of which are based at Cheongju Air Base in North Chungcheong Province. The next batch of 20-F-35A is expected to start operating in 2027.

"Additional combat jets to be obtained under the second stage of the F-35A program will be deployed to effectively defend the Republic of Korea," a spokesman for the ROK Air Force said.

"We cannot disclose detailed plans regarding the deployment of key assets," he added.

It is known, the F-35A, which is capable of penetrating 'sidle' into enemy territory, is the main component of South Korea's so-called "Kill Chain" strategy aimed at preemptively neutralizing North Korean nuclear assets and missiles.