Korean Air Wins F-16 Fighter Jets Contract from U.S. Defense Department

Korean Air has won a contract from the U.S. Defense Department for the service life extension and depot level maintenance of F-16 fighter jets deployed to the U.S. Forces in Korea and Japan for about 10 years from November 2020 to September 2030.

The deal is worth approximately 290 billion Won.

The service life extension program includes reliability verification of the main parts of the F-16 fighter jets’ fuselage and wings; disassembly/inspection/corrosion prevention processes to extend the aircraft’s lifespan; and replacement of main structures. The work allows an aircraft to fly an additional 4,000 hours.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact fighter jet with a strong turbofan engine and excellent capabilities for close-range air combat. Since it was developed in 1972, the fighter jet has been a key element of the U.S. Air Force in the  Asia-Pacific region.

Korean Air has provided depot maintenance for the U.S. military since 1978, and has successfully carried out depot maintenance and performance improvement projects for fighter jets and aircraft such as F-15, F-16, C-130 and A-10 as well as helicopters UH-60, CH-46 and CH-53.

Since 1984, Korean Air has conducted depot maintenance for approximately 860 F-16 fighter jets.

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