159th Reconnaissance Squadron ( RoKAF)

The 159th FS moved in from Daegu AB in 1994 to form the second block 52 unit within the 19th FW at Chungju AB. The squadron accepted its batch of the newly build block 52 airframes under the Peace Bridge II contract. These block 52 airframes are locally known as KF-16. The squadron was the second of the 19th FW – and within the Korean Air Force – to accept these advanced block 52 airframes. Comparing to the remainder of the Peace Bridge II order, these airframes were assembled by Samsung aerospace by kits delivered from Lockheed.

All RoKAF F-16 squadrons have a dual tasking. In the first place they are equipped with A/A missiles as the AIM-9 and AIM-120 to defend the Korean peninsula against attacks from the north. Secondly they have a dedicated ground-attack mission. Their main equipment for this mission is the LANTIRN targeting pod together with the AGM-65 Maverick missile. This equipment is chosen to counter massive North Korean tank attacks. Furthermore these F-16s are equipped with the advanced ALQ-165 ECM system which is a fully internal passive and active counter measures system. Therefore these aircraft don’t need an external ECM jammer.

In 2014 the unit transferred from the 19th FW to the 39th TRG, but was retained at Chungju AB. The unit was converted from a general purpose squadron to a dedicated reconnaissance squadron flying with the COndor2 recce pod and specialized ARD-300K ELINT equipment as well as the ALQ-200 ECM pod. The unit is specifically tasked to monitor the border with North Korea, although the general purpose tasks are also retained.

RoKAF F-16C block 52 #93-060 from the 19th FW is taking off with a pair of fuel tanks and a pair of Sidewinder missiles on the wingtips. [RoKAF photo]

• 1988: Activation of the squadron in Daegu
• 1988: F-4D 'Phantom II' (part of 11FW)
• 1994: F-16C/D 'Fighting Falcon' (part of 19FW, Chungju AB)
• 2014: F-16C/D 'Fighting Falcon' (part of 39TRG, Chungju AB)

• All 159 RS F-16s in our F-16 Aircraft Database (past and current aircraft)
• Current 159 RS F-16s in our F-16 Aircraft Database