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Foundation and Development of theRepublic of Korea Air Force

Lee, Myoung-Hwan 1

1공군사관학교

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ABSTRACT

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) was founded on October 1, 1949. After the foundation, the Air Force has developed to strategic air force, and now it is orienting toward aerospace force. The 60-year history of the Air Force can be divided into three stages. The first stage, the establishment of tactical air force (1945～1960), was the period, in which the Air Operational Command was established. The Korean War, exposing the weakness of the ROKAF, was a crisis and opportunity at the same time. Undertaking various operations during the war, the Air Force aimed for two different objectives, air operations for victory and enhancement of air power. After acceptance of ten F-51 fighters from the US Far East Air Force, the 10th Fighter Wing could operate independently. After the Korean War, the ROKAF received F-86 fighters through the 3-year plan of enhancement and Moosul plan. In the second stage (1961～1990), the era of tactical air force system, the ROKAF introduced supersonic fighter planes and could have stable air operation capabilities. Through the Yulgok Project, the ROKAF introduced supersonic fighters such as F-5, F-4, and F-16. The improved stability of air operations in the 1980s enabled us to respond to possible sudden attacks from the North Korea Air Force. The third stage (1991～2008), which aims for the strategic air force, has its momentum resulted from the circumstances in the 1990s, the period of increasing importance of air power due to frequent international conflicts. After analyzing the specifics of the air combats during the Gulf War and the air-strike of Kosovo in 1999, the ROKAF has set up its future identity as Aerospace Force, the barometer of 21st century air force. Furthermore, the recent mobilization of F-15K, a fighter capable of precise long-distance attack, demonstrates the characteristics of the ROKAF as strategic air force. The future orientation of the ROKAF is aerospace force. On the basis of National Defense Reform 2020, the Air Force could secure the Airborne Warning and Control System, space capabilities, and therefore, it could protect the national interest beyond war deterrence capability against North Korea.

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