The F-104K - Koreas Super Starfighter

[ValAstur]

The introduction of the MiG-19 "Farmer" and the potential for the North Korean Air Force (NKAF) to acquire this aircraft posed a major problem for the South Korean Air Force leadership in the early 1960s. Since most squadrons were equipped with various versions of the F-86, the high command feared that the "Farmer" could give the North a decisive air advantage. To mitigate this risk, the Korean government decided to contact the American Kennedy administration. The Koreans wanted an aircraft that would allow them to quickly reach the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) if necessary and intercept any intruding attackers. Several models were offered, of which the South Korean leadership preferred the F-104, despite its shorter range. In October 1961, the Korean Foreign Minister (Choi Duk-shin) and Defense Minister (Park Byung-kwon) signed a formal order for a total of 72 F-104Cs, which were delivered starting in mid-1962.

To compensate for the F-104's short range, Quick Response Airstrips (QRAS) were designated at various points south of the DMZ. Their sole purpose was to refuel, rearm, and maintain the F-104s in the event of an attack. Basically, the QRAS could be a longer road where the plane could land, hidden in a forest for example. Necessary resources for the completion of the tasks would be delivered by specially assigned units inside Army and Air Force.

By the mid-1990s, calls arose for the scrapping of the now 30-year-old aircraft, as they had become inefficient and expensive to maintain. As part of the overall modernization of the ROKAF, a program to improve the Starfighter was also initiated. This Combat Value Upgrade (CVU) was intended to make comprehensive modifications to the aging aircraft. The contract was awarded to KAI, with a target completion date of mid-2003. Problems involving the restructuring of the aircrafts fuselage and wing roots led to a major delay, with the program being completed at the end of 2005.

 

This project involved extensive modifications to the aging aircraft. The modifications included:

- Use of a more powerful and efficient engine -> Conversion to the General Electric F110-GE-129 engine

- Fuselage reinforcement for increased payload capacity -> Replacement of critical components and use of high-strength and durable materials, especially in the wing root and inner strut areas

- Addition of two additional pylons for more payload

- Installation of a more modern radar -> Conversion to the APG-82 system.

- Improvement of the ECM system

- Installation of a chaff/flare deployment system (30 each)

- Fixed sniper pod for electro-optical target acquisition

The improved model also became the first aircraft capable of using the Korean version of the Brimstone missile, "Yuhwang" (Brimstone in Korean), which featured laser targeting.

 

The pilots who flew the new aircraft for the first time praised its power. However, they also warned against underestimating the aircraft, as these modifications affected its flight characteristics.

Of the 64 aircraft remaining (8 lost due to accidents) before the conversion, only 24 were upgraded for cost reasons. The others were decommissioned and scrapped.

 

F-104K (CVU) Super Starfighter, 19th WIng, 162 Fighter Squadron "Boramae", 2006

 

CAS-Payload with 12 "Yuhwang"-missiles on TLRs

Edited 19 hours ago by ValAstur

[dsawan]

Looks good in this.