Will the South Korean Air Force get rid of its F-35A fighter jet, which was damaged in a collision with an Eagle?

The South Korean Air Force has had to make a difficult choice about what to do with its damaged F-35A (F-35A) stealth fighter jet.

According to local media, Korean Air Force officials faced a difficult dilemma regarding the repair of one of the F-35A’s that was badly damaged after it collided with an Eagle during take-off.

The source was quoted by the “Korean Times” as saying that the cost of repairing the F-35A fighter jet is expected to be $76 million, a price close to the original price of $100 million.

The estimate comes after talks between the South Korean Air Force and Lockheed Martin, the maker of the F-35A.

South Korean authorities are discussing with Lockheed Martin what to do with the plane.

The official said that after considering the economic and safety implications, a decision would be made to remove or repair them.

As is known, the collision between the F-35A and the Eagle occurred in early 2022, when the plane took off from the Korean military airport in Cheonju, North Chungcheong Province, while flying at an altitude of 330 meters.

The Eagle passed through the aircraft bulkhead and was sucked into the left engine vacuum pump, destroying the landing gear’s hydraulic and electrical tubes.

With the landing gear damaged, the pilot had to make a belly landing after emptying the fuel tank first in midair.

The pilot was finally able to safely land the plane at Susan Air Base in South Chungcheong Province.