South Korea scraps stealth fighter after bird collision

The South Korean Air Force grounded an F-35A fighter jet that collided with a bird last year because the cost of repairing it was higher than buying a new one.

The South Korean Air Force announced on December 1 that a comprehensive assessment showed that the F-35A had 300 damaged parts after hitting a bird and grinding its belly on the runway at Seosan base in January 2022, including the fuselage, engine, control and guidance systems.

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

According to South Korean defense officials, the cost of repairing the crashed F-35A is estimated at $107.6 million, higher than the purchase price of a new one of $84.7 million. The South Korean Air Force is considering ways to utilize the F-35A, including as a training tool for technicians.

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

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

The impact caused the F-35A to lose its landing gear, forcing the pilot to land on his belly and further damaging the fuselage. The F-35A pilot was not injured in the accident.

The F-35A, developed for the Air Force, is the smallest and lightest variant of the F-35 stealth fighter. It is much more maneuverable than the Marine Corps' F-35B and Navy's F-35C. The F-35A is also the only F-35 variant equipped with the GAU-22/A 25mm cannon.

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

South Korea and the US are discussing a contract to purchase F-35B fighter jets with short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.

Thanh Danh (According to Yonhap, Eurasian Times )

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