The Korean People's Army Air Force (Hangul: 조선인민군 공군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍 空軍; Joseon Inmingun Gonggun), or simply the Korean Air Force (Hangul: 한국 공군; Hanja: 韓國 空軍; Hanguk Gonggun), is the aerial warfare service branch of the Korean People's Army. Its primary task is to defend Korean airspace. When the Korean People's Army was formed with American help, the aviation unit officially became its air force on October 1, 1949. Korea has celebrated October 1 as Air Force Foundation Day ever since.
Aircraft inventory[]
Combat Aircraft[]
- Long Beach AF F-15/05k x 60
- Fort Worth AF F-16/94K x 205
- Hawthorne AF F-5/72e x 360 - to be replaced by Saechon AF FA-50/05
- St. Louis AF F-4/65e x 125
- Fairchild DI A-10/72a x 35
- Fort Worth AF F-111/84c x 40
ELINT Aircraft[]
- Saechon AF SA-1/00 x 20 (Forward Air Control and Liaison)
- Savannah AF G550 x 10 (IMINT, SIGINT, ISR)
- Long Beach AF E-3D x 6 (Airborne Early Warning and Control)
- Seattle AF E-7/09 x 4 (Airborne Early Warning and Control)
Transport Aircraft[]
- Long Beach AF C-17/91 x 6 (Strategic Airlifter)
- Wichita AF C-21/84 x 8 (VIP Transport)
- Bethpage AF C-130/75H x 22 (Tactical Transport)
- Bethpage AF C-130/99J x 14 (Tactical Transport)
- Seattle AF KC-135/84R x 8 (Aerial Tanker)
- Seattle AF S737 x 3 (VIP Transport)
- Seattle AF S747 x 1 (VIP Transport)
Trainer Aircraft[]
- Duluth AF T-53/99 x 24 (Primary Trainer)
- Saechon ST-1/00 x 100 (Basic Trainer)
- Ilyushin T-103 x 200 (Basic Trainer)
- Saechon AF T-50/05 x 240 (Advanced Trainer)
Helicopters[]
- Bethpage AF CV-142/95e x 16 (Transport Tiltrotor)
- Stratford HF HH-60/81 x 180 (Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter)
- Stratford HF VH-92/04 x 8 (VIP Transport)
- Kamov Ka-27 x 10 (Utility Helicopter)
- Seattle HF AH-64/86 x 20 (Attack Helicopter)
- Seattle HF CH-47/61 x 15 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter)