The United States may consider deploying F-35 stealth fighter jets to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea as the U.S. Air Force continues to consolidate its F-16 fighters at Osan Air Base.
U.S. Air Force F-35 aircraft from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska arrived in the Republic of Korea to
conduct training flights with ROKAF to enhance interoperability between the two Air Forces on and
around the Korean Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Braaten)
This potential development comes as the Seventh Air Force announced plans to extend its “Super Squadron” test for a second year and establish a second F-16 super squadron at Osan, significantly reducing the fighter presence at Kunsan.
U.S. Forces Korea has not officially announced any plans for F-35 deployment to Kunsan Air Base, but South Korean media reports suggest that the USAF is considering stationing one permanent F-35 squadron at the base, with an additional squadron rotating through on a temporary basis. These reports have not been confirmed by U.S. officials.
The Seventh Air Force announced on Apr. 24 that it would transfer most of the remaining F-16s from Kunsan to Osan, along with approximately 1,000 Airmen, beginning this summer. This follows an initial test that began in July 2024, which moved nine F-16 Fighting Falcons from Kunsan to create a 31-aircraft squadron at Osan.
“The past months of data reveal that we’re on the right track and the consolidated, larger unit has shown some increases in readiness and combat capability, while also exposing some challenges,” Lt. Gen. David R. Iverson, Seventh Air Force commander, stated in the announcement. “With this success we’re now expanding the scope, by consolidating the F-16s in Seventh Air Force at Osan, to further determine if the super squadron construct is the right path for future airpower generation here in Korea.”
With the reduction of F-16s, Kunsan Air Base is transitioning to function primarily as an exercise and rotational force bed-down location for U.S. air component forces.
“We acknowledge this is a major shift in how we operate here at Kunsan,” Col. Peter Kasarskis, 8th Fighter Wing commander, said. “We’ll meet this change with the same warfighter mindset the Wolf Pack has maintained through our history, and strengthen our ability to accept follow-on forces, defend the base and take the fight north.”
The Seventh Air Force has emphasized that its current restructuring initiatives have “no impact on Seventh Air Force’s ability to employ airpower to deter aggression and defend South Korea against any threat.”
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