South Korea Is Considering Using F-35B Fighters on Their Amphibious Assault Ships
It seems that if the ROK wants to use their amphibious landing ships to project power from with their F-35B fighters they can find a way to modify the decks of the ships:
South Korea’s military has begun to consider operating F-35B stealth aircraft from its newest amphibious landing ship slated to be deployed in 2020, as part of efforts to strengthen its naval power, sources said Monday.
The authorities have recently discussed whether the second 14,000-ton Dokdo-class vessel can carry the F-35B fighter, a short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the U.S.-made fifth-generation warplane.
“I understand that the military top brass have recently discussed whether they can introduce a small number of F-35B fighters and operate them aboard the new ship that has already been deployed and one to be additionally built,” a military source told Yonhap News Agency, declining to be named.
“As far as I know, the idea is being weighed in light of maximizing the strategic value of the vessel’s capabilities,” he added.
The existing Dokdo ship is seen capable of operating only transport helicopters because its deck is not made of materials that can withstand high temperatures or friction caused by fighter jet operations.
“Considerations will continue about whether we can run F-35Bs by redesigning the decks of the Dokdo and the new ship that is being constructed,” another source said.
In 2014, Seoul decided to purchase 40 F-35A fighters for deployment from 2018 through 2021 at a cost of 7.3 trillion won (US$6.75 billion). The F-35A is the fighter’s air force variant, while the F-35B and F-35C are for marines and aircraft carrier-based operations, respectively. [Yonhap]
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Where do they anticipate projecting power to? Are they planning to use them like low cost aircraft carriers? Amphibious assault ships won’t do that for you.
Land based fighters in South Korea can engage their immediate enemy anywhere of the peninsular. But why would they need to deploy combat fighters supposedly far away for safe haven home bases? Those fighter will burn fuel much faster than helicopters and LCACs. After a few missions they become dead weight targets sitting on the deck. Unless you plan to accompany them with a fleet of resupply ships full of jet fuel, missiles and bombs, which also become easy targets.
That’s about the stupidest idea since kimchee ice cream.
If South Korea was planning airstrikes on Tasmania, it might be useful.
But can’t that effort and expense be put to better use in countering threats and accomplishing goals which are all of a very local nature?
All Fatty needs to do is use a midget sub and those F35s and amphibious landing ships are toast. They’d be better off investing in cruise missiles.
Some Koreans think the shiny technology is by itself enough to win wars.
Others know it takes more than an overhead full of documentation.
Echo what everyone else said. Except for looking “cool” it won’t help at all in the defense of South Korea. Waste of time and money.