The South Korean Air Force issued a statement on Friday informing that it decided to retire one of its F-35 stealth fighters, as it was severely damaged by a bird strike in January 2022.
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) said that after conducting a thorough analysis with the U.S. manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, it was found that the F-35A suffered damage to about 300 components, including the airframe, structure, engine, and control and navigation system.
Considering the high costs and the long period it would take to make the necessary repairs and other safety issues, the ROKAF review committee concluded that it is better to retire the aircraft than to repair it. The plan will be finalized with the approval of the Ministry of Defense.
The ROKAF selected the F-35 Lighting II for its F-X III fighter program in 2014. The ROKAF is currently taking deliveries of 40 F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft, with the first unit arriving in Korea in 2019.
See also: South Korea goes for another 25 F-35 Lighting II fighters for US$ 5 billion
According to Yonhap News, the cost of repairing the crashed aircraft’s aircraft would involve an outlay of $107.6 million, higher than the unit acquisition price of around $70 million estimated for a new unit from lots 15 to 17.
The South Korean Air Force will consider various ways to further leverage the retired aircraft, including its potential use in training mechanical personnel.
