The 120 Fighters This Country Is Building To Replace Its F-4s & F-5s By 2032

The Republic of Korea is accelerating its plan to modernize Cold War-era fighter jets, aiming to replace older airframes as part of a broader regional shift in defense capabilities.

South Korea is pursuing a rapid upgrade path that involves a mix of remaining legacy aircraft and new platforms, in response to shifting threats and the need for more advanced airpower in Asia.

The effort is taking place as export demand for Korea’s new KF-21 Boramae stealth fighter influences defense decisions, signaling increased competition and capacity constraints within regional air programs.

The topic appears in discussions of Korea’s air force modernization, with attention to how contemporary developments in sixth-generation concepts are affecting the pace and direction of upgrades and procurement.

A first example of Korea’s modernization sequence includes the delivery of the initial KF-21 Boramae by Korea Aerospace Industries, an event noted by coverage from the Korea Herald and analyzed in broader defense reporting.

Context for the drive to replace older fighters remains tied to evolving strategic considerations and the global pace of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft development, as observed by analysts and military writers.