Kim Minseok covers South Korean defense. He has worked as a journalist for South Korean military magazines Military Review and Defense Times. Mr Kim is also a research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank.
South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has confirmed plans to kickstart development of two uncrewed aerial system (UAS) designs: an air teaming system and a low observable reconnaissance UAS.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will seek funding for a midlife upgrade of the FA-50 from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration this year.
The South Korean Air Force is preparing to purchase 60 additional fighters to replace older aircraft five years sooner than planned. The service operates about 100 F-4s and F-5s. It plans to operate the F-4s until 2024 and the F-5s until 2031, which would keep the older aircraft in use for more than 40 years.
