Every South Korean Military Aircraft — Complete List
South Korea has operated 72 distinct aircraft types across its military history — 38 still in active service, 2 on order or entering service and 32 retired or former.
Service status72 types
Fighters & Combat Aircraft
12 types
KF-21 Boramae
Status In service Service entry2026
FA-50 Fighting Eagle
Status In service Service entry2014
F-35 Lightning II
Status In service Service entry2013
F-15E Strike Eagle
Status In service Service entry1988
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Status In service Service entry1978
F-5E Tiger II
Status In service Service entry1976
F-16V Viper
Status Retired Service entry2018
A-37 Dragonfly
Status Retired Service entry1967
O-2 Skymaster
Status Retired Service entry1967
F-5 Freedom Fighter
Status Retired Service entry1965
F-4 Phantom II
Status Retired Service entry1962
F-86 Sabre
Status Retired Service entry1949Military Helicopters
22 types
505 Jet Ranger X
Status In service Service entry2017
AW159
Status In service Service entry2014
KUH-1 Surion
Status In service Service entry2013
S-92 Superhawk
Status In service Service entry2004
H155 / EC155 Dauphin 2
Status In service Service entry1999
HH-60 Pave Hawk
Status In service Service entry1987
AH-64 Apache
Status In service Service entry1984
Bell 412
Status In service Service entry1981
UH-60 Black Hawk
Status In service Service entry1979
H215M / AS532 Cougar
Status In service Service entry1978
Westland Lynx
Status In service Service entry1978
MBB Bo 105
Status In service Service entry1970
AH-1 Cobra
Status In service Service entry1967
MD-500
Status In service Service entry1967
CH-47 Chinook
Status In service Service entry1962
Ka-29 Helix-B
Status Retired Service entry1987
AS565 Panther
Status Retired Service entry1986
SH-60 Seahawk
Status Retired Service entry1984
Ka-27 Helix
Status Retired Service entry1982
206 JetRanger
Status Retired Service entry1967
SA316 Alouette III
Status Retired Service entry1961
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"
Status Retired Service entry1959Transport & Tanker Aircraft
11 types
Airbus A330 MRTT
Status In service Service entry2011
Falcon 2000
Status In service Service entry1995
CN-235
Status In service Service entry1988
F406 Caravan II
Status In service Service entry1985
Boeing 737
Status In service Service entry1968
C-130 Hercules
Status In service Service entry1956
Commander 500
Status In service Service entry1952
C-390 Millennium
Status Entering Service entry2019
BD-700 Global Express
Status Entering Service entry1999
C-123 Provider
Status Retired Service entry1956
Douglas DC-3
Status Retired Service entry1936Special Mission Aircraft
7 types
P-8 Poseidon
Status In service Service entry2013
E-7 Wedgetail
Status In service Service entry2010
Hawker 800
Status In service Service entry1983
Boeing 747
Status In service Service entry1970
P-3 Orion
Status In service Service entry1962
King Air 90
Status Retired Service entry1964
S-2 Tracker
Status Retired Service entry1954Trainers
11 types
KT-100
Status In service Service entry2015
T-50 Golden Eagle
Status In service Service entry2005
KT-1 Woongbi
Status In service Service entry2000
T-5 Brave Eagle
Status Retired Service entry2021
Hawk
Status Retired Service entry1976
Mudry CAP 10
Status Retired Service entry1970
T-41 Mescalero
Status Retired Service entry1965
T-38 Talon
Status Retired Service entry1961
T-37 Tweet
Status Retired Service entry1957
T-28 Trojan
Status Retired Service entry1950
T-33 Shooting Star
Status Retired Service entry1948Unmanned Aircraft
9 types
RQ-101 Night Intruder
Status In service Service entry2002
RQ-4 Global Hawk
Status In service Service entry2001KUS-FS
Status Retired Service entry2025
Elbit Skylark
Status Retired Service entry2008
IAI Heron
Status Retired Service entry2005Forpost
Status Retired Service entry1992IAI Searcher
Status Retired Service entry1992IAI Harpy
Status Retired Service entry1989MQM-107 Streaker
Status Retired Service entry1984Other National Fleets
National fleets — aircraft in service by country
- 🇺🇸 United States · all-time
- 🇷🇺 Russia · all-time
- 🇨🇳 China · all-time
- 🇮🇳 India · all-time
- 🇰🇷 South Korea · all-time
- 🇯🇵 Japan · all-time
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan · all-time
- 🇰🇵 North Korea · all-time
- 🇪🇬 Egypt · all-time
- 🇹🇷 Turkey · all-time
- 🇫🇷 France · all-time
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · all-time
- 🇮🇹 Italy · all-time
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan · all-time
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · all-time
- 🇮🇷 Iran · all-time
- 🇬🇷 Greece · all-time
- 🇩🇿 Algeria · all-time
- 🇩🇪 Germany · all-time
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · all-time
- 🇮🇱 Israel · all-time
- 🇧🇷 Brazil · all-time
- 🇪🇸 Spain · all-time
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia · all-time
- 🇵🇱 Poland · all-time
- 🇮🇶 Iraq · all-time
- 🇦🇺 Australia · all-time
- 🇨🇦 Canada · all-time
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine · all-time
- 🇦🇷 Argentina · all-time
Frequently Asked Questions
How many aircraft types has the South Korea military ever operated?
South Korea has operated 72 distinct aircraft types across its history and current inventory, including 38 still in active service and 32 retired or former types.
Does this list include retired South Korea military aircraft?
Yes. This page covers every aircraft type the country has operated — past, present, and future — with a green In service, blue Entering service, or grey Retired status badge on each tile. For the current-only fleet, see the in-service listicle.
What about prototypes and test aircraft?
This page tracks operational service types. Pure prototypes, X-planes and test aircraft that never entered squadron service are not included.