Last year, South Korea responded to its interest in an aircraft carrier, saying it would build a “multifunctional large transport ship.” But in its national plan for 2021-2025, published this week, the government has for the first time explicitly committed to building the billion-dollar device.
“The 30,000-ton aircraft carrier will be able to transport military forces, equipment and materials and serve fighter jets capable of vertical take-off and landing,” the Ministry of Defense release said.
“It will enable the Army to suppress threats more effectively and send forces and materials to a disputed region at sea by playing the role of a controlling ship for naval unity.”
The country will join Japan and the United States in deploying F-35Bs on light aircraft carriers in the western Pacific.
The US also bases an amphibious assault ship, as the US Navy calls its small carriers, with F-35Bs in Japan.
With its 30,000-ton displacement, it will be the size of the South Korean ship closer to that of its Japanese counterpart instead of to the USS America of 43,000 tons, which is deployed to Japan.
China has also launched large-scale amphibious attacks. However, Beijing does not yet have fighter jets with the short takeoff and vertical landing capacity to use on them.
A precious arsenal
South Korea did not provide cost estimate for the light aircraft carrier, but US government reports price a new version of the USS-America – which is 25% to 30% larger than the South Korean ship – at almost $ 4 billion. F-35B fighter jets each cost about $ 122 million.
Chun In-bum, a retired general of the South Korean army, questioned whether Seoul was making a sensible investment.
“Cost and benefit analysis should really occur. Is it worth it to invest this kind of money?” Chun sei. “Another aspect of these costs is, if we invest in this capacity, will we not deviate from other priority capacity?”
He said areas such as logistics, training and even better radios should be a priority for the South Korean army.
When taking over the F-35Bs, South Korea joins the US, Japan and the United Kingdom as the only countries with the versatile stealth fighters, which manufacturer Lockheed-Martin says “redefines the multi-role fighter.”
F-35Bs are fifth-generation stealth jets that can fly at Mach 1.6 – more than one and a half times the speed of sound – and land vertically.
The aircraft can carry two air-to-air missiles and two 1,000-pound guided bombs in their internal arms bay.
The aircraft come with software suites that allow, in theory, real-time communication in battle not only among South Korean troops, but also with other peoples operating F-35s, such as the US, Japan and Australia, who the F has -35A model.
Lockheed-Martin says its short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities allow it to operate on roads or small airports rather than ships – meaning they can be closer to the battlefield and have faster turnaround times on missions than conventional fighter jets.
“The primary benefit that a small carrier offers South Korea is its use as a mobile airport,” said Carl Schuster, a former U.S. Navy captain and former director of operations at the US Pacific Joint Intelligence Center. .
“When North Korea is on land at South Korea’s air base, it has been able to maneuver and attack from ever-changing locations to tactical and operational advantages.”
The carrier could also extend the reach of the South Korean army, Schuster said – possibly as far as the Indian Ocean.
“It signals that the ROK Navy intends to operate far from home more than it does now,” he added.
In addition to all possible combat roles, the South Korean army said the new carrier “will also serve as a multi-purpose military base at sea in a non-military threat situation, such as a rescue operation for civilians in the event of disasters or accidents.”
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