The United States Department of State has approved a potential sale of equipment and services to South Korea to upgrade the country’s F-15K fighter fleet amid increasing hostility with North Korea.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on November 19 that Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, and BAE Systems will be the main contractors for the proposed foreign military sale (FMS), which is expected to cost about US$6.2 billion. The agency, a division of the Defense Department, is responsible for implementing the Foreign Military Sales initiative.
However, Congress must approve sales of military equipment exceeding US$25 million to ‘NATO Plus’ countries, including South Korea.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region,” DSCA said in a release. “This proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its critical air defense capability to deter aggression in the region and to ensure interoperability with U.S. forces.”
Seoul has requested the purchase of equipment, including 96 Advanced Display Core Processor II mission system computers, 70 AN/APG-82(v)1 Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) radars, 70 AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System electronic warfare suites, and 70 AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems. These parts will be used by South Korea to upgrade its F-15K fleet.
EurAsian Times understands that the South Korean government has been looking for AESA radars for its F-15K Slam Eagle since they are crucial in identifying low-flying, low-radar-cross-section targets, such as drones and cruise missiles. This will be useful in the wake of the persisting threat posed by North Korean missiles, drones, and even balloons. Moreover, adding an Electronic Warfare Suite will bolster the RoKAF’s air defense capability.
The press statement cited the DSCA and noted that “the potential sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
In addition to the above-listed equipment, South Korea also requires engineering, technical, and logistics services, personnel training, aerial refueling, aircraft ferrying, and assistance with upgrades and maintenance.
The F-15K or Slam Eagle is the South Korean-specific variant of the F-15E. Though the country has the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets and F-16 C/D fighters, as well as the domestically-produced FA-50 and the KF-21 (currently under development), it makes sense for the RoKAF to upgrade the F-15K fleet as the fighters have a lot of service life left in them.
South Korea purchased its first 40 F-15Ks in 2002 for US$4 billion. Just six years later, an additional order was placed for 21 F-15Ks for a cost of US$2 billion.
The approval for the upgrade comes as another US ally in the region, Japan, is upgrading its F-15 fleet amid an amplified security threat—primarily from China, North Korea, and Russia.
South Korea is also upgrading its KF-16 fighters to the latest Viper standard, which is poised to be completed by 2025.
The F-15K Is The Most Valuable Player
The F-15s, for one, have long been valued for their versatility, including their ability to carry substantial weapons over long distances. The aircraft is renowned for scoring 100 kills against zero losses in combat.
The F-15Es were designed for high-speed, long-range interdiction. Since its acquisition, the F-15K has been a cornerstone of Republic of Korea Air Force operations, playing a crucial role in deterrence and air defense missions. The aircraft has been scrambled to defeat the threat posed by UAVs deployed by North Korea on multiple occasions.
Moreover, the F-15K regularly participates in joint air exercises with US fighter jets, which are often conducted in response to Pyongyang’s missile tests. The aircraft also participated in the joint maneuvers alongside the Indian Su-30MKI during the major multinational Exercise Pitch Black in Australia, as previously reported by the EurAsian Times.
In fact, the Slam Eagle was deployed to escort the USAF B-1B bomber during South Korea’s Armed Forces Day parade on October 1.
Just about a month later, in November, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced that four F-15Ks, an Air Force B-1B, and four Japanese F-2s performed a trilateral bomber escort drill between the air identification zones of South Korea and Japan.
The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) announced on October 11 that it carried out live-fire drills involving the Taurus missile over the Yellow Sea on October 8 and October 10. The F-15K fighter jet fired the cruise missile, which traveled over 400 kilometers before hitting the pre-designated target in the Yellow Sea.
At the time, the RoKAF stated that it also practiced using F-15K and F-35A Lightning II aircraft to counter threats from hostile cruise missiles—an announcement that shows the Slam Eagles’ utility for air defense.
The Slam Eagle is the core of South Korean air defense, with about 59 F-15K jets currently in service. According to some reports, the jets are tasked with monitoring North Korean military activities and facilities.
Upgrading these aircraft will also boost interoperability between US and South Korean forces against potential security threats in the Indo-Pacific region, including North Korea and China.
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