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Only half of KF-16s in operation
October 26, 2007 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
The Korean Air Force operated only half of its 130 KF-16 fighter jets between February and August, analysis revealed, thus leaving a defense vacuum.
The analysis was carried out in a National Assembly inspection of the Air Force.
It stood at 70 percent in January, before engine maintenance problems became an issue in the wake of a deadly crash. In February, the figure dropped to the 50 percent range and has been hovering at 50 to 60 percent since.
The Korean Air Force apparently lacks sufficient fighter jets that could make up the shortfall. The operation rate of other fighter jets -- the F-15K, F-4 and F-5 -- also stood at a mere 60 to 70 percent between January and August.
The Air Force dismissed the concern and denied there is a military power vacuum.. "We've maintained a low operational rate of aircrafts to prevent possible accidents caused by maintenance problems,'' Capt. Kim Sung-kyung of the Air Force's public affairs office said. "Most of the fighters have no problem flying missions."
Safety concerns about South Korea's fleet of KF-16 jets have been rekindled since a jet went down in the West Sea on February 13th. The fighter crashed because of engine failure caused by poor maintenance, investigators said.
U.S. engine maker Pratt & Whitney, which supplied the KF-16's engines, advised the Air Force to replace a defective part of the doomed jet's engine or risk an accident, but mechanics ignored it, according to the Air Force's in-house probe.
It stood at 70 percent in January, before engine maintenance problems became an issue in the wake of a deadly crash. In February, the figure dropped to the 50 percent range and has been hovering at 50 to 60 percent since.
The Korean Air Force apparently lacks sufficient fighter jets that could make up the shortfall. The operation rate of other fighter jets -- the F-15K, F-4 and F-5 -- also stood at a mere 60 to 70 percent between January and August.
The Air Force dismissed the concern and denied there is a military power vacuum.. "We've maintained a low operational rate of aircrafts to prevent possible accidents caused by maintenance problems,'' Capt. Kim Sung-kyung of the Air Force's public affairs office said. "Most of the fighters have no problem flying missions."
Safety concerns about South Korea's fleet of KF-16 jets have been rekindled since a jet went down in the West Sea on February 13th. The fighter crashed because of engine failure caused by poor maintenance, investigators said.
U.S. engine maker Pratt & Whitney, which supplied the KF-16's engines, advised the Air Force to replace a defective part of the doomed jet's engine or risk an accident, but mechanics ignored it, according to the Air Force's in-house probe.
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