South Korea retires stealth fighter jet that collided with a bird.

The South Korean Air Force retired an F-35A fighter jet that was involved in a bird strike last year because the repair costs were higher than buying a new one.

The South Korean Air Force announced on December 1st that a comprehensive assessment revealed 300 parts were damaged after the F-35A suffered damage to 300 components following a bird strike and subsequent belly scrape on the runway at Seosan Air Base in January 2022, including the airframe, engines, and control and navigation systems.

Due to high costs, lengthy repair times, and other safety concerns, the South Korean Air Force's review committee concluded that the F-35A should be decommissioned rather than repaired. The committee will submit the plan to the South Korean Ministry of Defense for approval.

According to South Korean defense officials, the estimated cost of repairing the crashed F-35A is approximately $107.6 million, which is $84.7 million higher than the original purchase price. The South Korean Air Force is considering options for repurposing the F-35A, including using it as a training tool for technicians.

An F-35A fighter jet takes off from Cheongju Air Base in South Korea, about 147 km south of Seoul, on August 21. Photo: Yonhap — An F-35A fighter jet takes off from Cheongju Air Base in South Korea, about 147 km south of Seoul, on August 21. Photo: *Yonhap*

The accident occurred in January 2022 when a falcon weighing approximately 10 kg crashed into the left air intake of the F-35A, causing the bulkhead to break and fly into the weapons bay, damaging the hydraulic system and electrical cables.

The impact prevented the F-35A from deploying its landing gear, forcing the pilot to make a belly landing and causing further damage to the aircraft's airframe. The F-35A pilot was not injured in the accident.

The F-35A, developed for the Air Force, is the smallest and lightest variant in the F-35 stealth fighter family. This model boasts significantly higher maneuverability than the Marine Corps' F-35B and the Navy's F-35C. The F-35A is also the only F-35 variant equipped with the GAU-22/A 25 mm cannon.

The South Korean Air Force has 40 F-35A aircraft in service. The South Korean government has 25 F-35A fighters this year. The US State Department approved the contract in September 2023 with a total value of $5.06 billion.

South Korea and the United States are discussing a contract to purchase F-35B fighter jets, which are capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings.

Thanh Danh (According to Yonhap, Eurasian Times )

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