South Korean F-35 Used as Maintenance Training Aid After Write-Off

South Korean F-35 Write-Off Repurposed as Maintenance Training Aid

A Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Lockheed Martin F-35A, rendered inoperable following a 2022 incident, has been repurposed as a maintenance training aid. This decision reflects a strategic choice to enhance technical training capabilities rather than attempt costly repairs or influence the defense market.

Incident and Damage Assessment

On January 4, 2022, the F-35A suffered significant damage after ingesting a bird into its Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. The resulting engine failure forced the pilot to perform a belly landing due to the landing gear’s inability to deploy. Although the airframe remained largely intact, detailed inspections by ROKAF and Lockheed Martin revealed damage to approximately 300 components, spanning the airframe, engine, and critical control and navigation systems. Given the extensive nature of the damage, the aircraft was officially decommissioned in December 2023.

Conversion to Training Aid

Instead of scrapping the aircraft, ROKAF collaborated with the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) to convert the damaged jet into a maintenance training platform. This involved removing the wings and transporting the airframe from Seosan Air Base to Cheongju Air Base. The operation drew on experience from the earlier ‘Frankenjet’ project and served as a practical demonstration of wing removal and reinstallation procedures. This hands-on approach provides valuable training opportunities for maintenance personnel.

Collaborative Effort and Industry Impact

The project was a joint effort involving Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning Support Team, ROKAF Logistics Command, the 17th Fighter Wing, the U.S. Air Force’s 309th Expeditionary Deployed Maintenance Squadron, and the U.S. Navy’s Forward Deployed Combat Repair and Fleet Readiness Center Southeast. Their combined expertise enabled the conversion to be completed several weeks ahead of schedule. The success of this initiative has led to the formal adoption of wing removal and reinstallation as a standard procedure within the F-35 program’s heavy maintenance and repair protocols. The JPO highlighted this as a proof-of-concept that validates the feasibility and efficiency of full wing replacement in the F-35 sustainment framework.

Market and Fleet Implications

The repurposing of the decommissioned F-35A has had negligible impact on the defense market, as the aircraft was already out of operational service. Competitor reactions have been neutral, and market responses subdued, reflecting the aircraft’s transition to a non-combat role. According to Aviation Week Fleet Discovery Military, ROKAF currently operates 39 F-35As, with an additional 25 units on order. The transformation of the written-off aircraft into a training asset underscores ROKAF’s commitment to optimizing fleet value while advancing maintenance capabilities for future operational readiness.