Report and photos by Robin Polderman, with thanks to Jamie Chang for the heads-up
In anticipation of the delivery of the KF-21 and the required changes to the infrastructure at Gangneung airbase, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) consolidated all of its KF-5E/F assets at Suwon airbase as of 3 January 2025. On this day, the sole remaining squadron at Gangneung, the 105 FS, flew over its remaining aircraft and took up residence at Suwon under the umbrella of the 10th Fighter Wing. The other Gangneung based squadron, the 112 FS, disbanded in December 2024.
The introduction of the indigenous FA-50 light fighter in the mid 2010s signalled the end for F-5 Tiger II operations at Wonju and Yecheon airbases as based squadrons converted to the new type and their old Tigers were distributed among other F-5 units.
Sundown of the Korean F-5 fleet began in earnest on 30 November 2015, when the 205 FS at Gangneung disbanded, followed by the 207 FS at Suwon in 2017.
More and more of the older Northrop-built F-5E/F aircraft reached the end of their service life, prompting the disbandment of the 206 FS at Gwanju on 31 December 2021. Luckily the unit was revived on 4 October 2023 and received the first TA-50 Block II before the end of that year.
Currently a total of 48 Korean-built KF-5E/F single seat/dual seat Tigers are still operational while the last Northrop-built machine, F-5F 80-786, was retired during December of 2023. The fleet is slated to be replaced by the indigenous KAI KF-21 Boramae between 2026 and 2032.
In case of conflict the 10 FW, based at Suwon since November 1954, is responsible for the air defense of the capital Seoul as well as the destruction of long distance artillery threatening that same city.
After retiring the F-4E during June of 2024, the 10 FW will also have the future honor of retiring the last ROKAF F-5s.
ROKAF KF-5E/F squadrons currently at Suwon (10 FW):
101 FS: established 15 February 1953 (P-51D)
105 FS: established 15 October 1964 (F-5A/B)
201 FS: established 15 March 1976 (F-5E/F)