The video in this post features animated footage of F-35A aircraft attacking North Korean targets, including the DPRK’s new Hwasong-14 mobile intercontinental ballistic missile launcher and what appear to be a Russian-made Pantsir-S1 short-range air defence system and 2K12 Kub mobile surface-to-air missile system.
The video in this post was released last week by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and shows off its advanced capabilities, including those of its new F-35A fighters.
Showcasing the F-35A’s stealth capabilities, the 4:28 minute video features animated footage of the plane attacking North Korean targets, including the DPRK’s new Hwasong-14 mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (the Hwasong-14 is the most advanced North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile, with a range of around 10,000 kilometers, capable of reaching the continental U.S.) launcher and what appear to be a Russian-made Pantsir-S1 short-range air defence system and 2K12 Kub mobile surface-to-air missile system. Although the Kub is known to serve in North Korea’s air defence forces, it’s not immediately clear why animators chose to include the Pantsir-S1, since North Korea is not known to operate the air defence system at present.
Noteworthy ROKAF declared initial operating capability for its F-35A fifth generation fighters on Dec. 17, 2019.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) faces a complex threat environment and the stealth F-35A provides the ROKAF an enhanced capability to protect safety and security.
The Republic of Korea concluded its F-X III fighter acquisition program with the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) between the U.S. and Korean governments on Sep. 30, 2014, for an initial order of 40 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) variant jets with initial deliveries beginning in 2018.
The first F-35A for the ROKAF, known as aircraft AW-1, made its public debut in late March 2018 and pilot training began at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Ariz. in spring 2018. Aircraft were delivered to Chongju Air Base in March 2019 to meet South Korea’s national security requirements.
North Korea voiced its concerns over the delivery of F-35 fighters to the Korean peninsula in July, categorizing them as a potential ‘first strike weapon’ and promising to develop and test new “special armaments to completely destroy the lethal weapons reinforced in South Korea.”
