While some countries are wondering about the interest of aircraft carriers in a modern conflict, particularly in the United States and France, several countries are making significant efforts to acquire such a capability. This is the case with Japan, which ordered around 35 FXNUMXBs to arm its two Izumo-class aircraft carrier destroyers, India, which is continuing its efforts to strengthen its naval air fleet, or China, including the third aircraft carrier, this time equipped with electromagnetic catapults and capable of using heavy aircraft and combat drones. South Korea, whose naval ambitions have been discussed several times in our columns, is no exception. Indeed, Seoul announced, in July 2019, the development of two 30.000 tonne assault aircraft carriers capable of operating up to 16 F35B combat aircraft, which the country does not have.
This will soon be the case, as the South Korean press has echoed the decision taken by the country's authorities, and contrary to what was said in November 2019, to replace the last 20 F35A of the initial order which was to relate to 60 aircraft to replace the F4 and F5 still in service with the Korean Air Force, by 20 F35B, version with take-off and short or vertical landing of the American fighter, in service notably in the United States Marine Corps, in the Royal Air Force, and commanded by Tokyo, to serve on board their respective aircraft carriers. With these devices, Seoul will have power projection capabilities that are certainly limited, but real, both within the framework of the coalition and in the defense of its territory against Pyongyang or Beijing, if necessary.
75% of this article remains to read,
Subscribe to access it!
The Classic subscriptions provide access to
articles in their full version, and without advertising,
from 6,90 €.
Newsletter subscription
Register for the Meta-Defense Newsletter to receive the
latest fashion articles daily or weekly
[…] The least we can say is that the South Korean aircraft carrier program does not lack twists and turns. In October 2019, the South Korean Chief of Staff, General Park Han-ki, announced that the administration of President Moon Jae-In had approved the construction of two 30.000-ton aircraft carriers capable of carrying out F-35B combat aircraft, a vertical or short take-off and landing version of the famous Lockheed-Martin aircraft, used in particular by the US Marines Corps but also the Royal Air Force, the Japanese air self-defense forces and the Italian naval aeronautics. A year later, in 2020, there was no longer any question of 2 aircraft carriers derived from the Dokdo class, but of a single 40.000-ton aircraft carrier capable of carrying 16 F-35Bs and 8 helicopters. The program, designated CVX, then began to show itself in the form of models during the shows, while Seoul announced that the last tranche of 20 F-35s that the country had committed to acquiring, would relate to the ADAC / V F version -35B. […]