Advantages of Conducting MRO for USFK Aircraft in South Korea

ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2023.08.16 16:02

It is also necessary to improve the MRO problem of USFK aircraft. Korean companies have a track record of maintenance of 9,700 aircraft until last year. It also performs MRO missions for the Indonesian, Thai, and Philippine Air Forces. Korean Air is already carrying out maintenance work on USFK fighter planes and helicopters, and the US military is reportedly highly appreciating its capabilities.

Considering the capabilities of Korean companies, it is necessary to improve the system so that MRO for USFK fighter planes and helicopters, which is currently being carried out on the US mainland, can be done in South Korea. There are about 200 fighter planes and helicopters in the USFK, and about 30 engines are required for MRO every year. However, due to the constraints of US-related laws, it cannot be developed in South Korea.

It is reported that 30 billion won (approximately 3.3 billion yen) in annual cost savings can be expected if the USFK’s aircraft are maintained in South Korea. In fact, in 2013, when South Korea only maintained aircraft for the US military, 22 billion won out of 80 billion won was subsidized from the defense cost sharing. If the US naval vessels and aircraft are maintained in South Korea, it will help improve the operating rate of US strategic assets, reduce transportation costs to the US mainland, and effectively implement the South Korea-US defense cost-sharing. It is hoped that the summit will serve as an opportunity to strengthen military cooperation between South Korea and the US, while at the same time ensuring economic benefits such as job creation.

Moon Geun-sik / Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Gyeonggi University

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2023-08-16 07:02:00