U.S. pledges extended support for S. Korea with F-22s

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) said Thursday it
will provide South Korea with the "extended reach" of its F-22 stealth aircraft
if necessary, adding the number of fighter jets stationed in the Asian ally has
increased over the years.

F-22 "Raptors" are the most advanced fighter aircraft the U.S. operates. Though
none have been stationed in South Korea, the U.S. Air Force recently deployed a
dozen F-22s to Japan amid rising tension with North Korea.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against the
North. The U.S. Seventh Air Force (7AF), based in Osan, 55 kilometers south of
Seoul, also operates some 80 fighter aircraft, including A-10 "tank killers" and
F-16s, PACAF said, saying numbers have increased from several years ago.
"In 2005, 7AF had 66 permanently assigned fighter aircraft. Today, (the) more
than 80 aircraft include 20 A-10s and 20 F-16 Block 40s at Osan Air Base and more
than 35 F-16 Block 40s at Gunsan Air Base," Capt. Renee Lee, a PACAF
spokesperson, said in an email.
Block 40 represents an upgrade in weapons systems and engine performance from
Block 30, a model that has been entirely pulled out of South Korea. Gunsan is
about 275 kilometers south of Seoul.
"In fact, 7AF has an even greater capability if you consider the extended reach
we have with our Pacific partners, for example, F-22s and bombers," PACAF said.
"With the capability to reach back to other bases within the Pacific, our fighter
and bomber presence and support to our allies and Koreans is great."
PACAF acknowledged six F-16 Block 30s have been pulled out since 2005, but denied
local media reports this week that there has been a major reduction.
"7AF has not cut its aircraft by 25 percent in the past four years. 7AF has just
as many aircraft now as in 2005," the spokesperson said.
The U.S. has deployed an additional 15 F-16 "Falcons" here since it relocated a
portion of its Apache helicopters outside of South Korea for a mission in the
Middle East earlier this year, it added.
samkim@yna.co.kr