Republic of Korea Air Force F-4E Retired

The Republic of Korea Air Force retired its last F-4E Phantom IIs at a decommissioning ceremony at Suwon Air Base on 7 June 2024, ending 55 years of Phantom operations that began in 1969. The defence minister attended and ordered the final sortie, flown by the 153rd Fighter Squadron of the 10th Fighter Wing. South Korea operated about 200 Phantoms over the years, comprising 92 F-4Ds, 94 F-4Es and 27 RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft, making it one of the type's longest-serving operators. The air-defence role passes to the F-16 and KF-16, FA-50, F-15K and F-35A, with the KF-21 to follow.