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| An F-35A takes off at an air base in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, May 16. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Air Force |
By Ko Dong-hwan
After a mid-air collision with an eagle and sustaining significant damage more than a year ago, the country's most advanced fighter jet may end up being dumped due to astronomical repair costs.
The repair bill for the broken F-35A is estimated to be over 100 billion won ($76 million) ― close to its original price tag of $100 million. The estimation came after talks between the Republic of Korea Air Force and Lockheed Martin, the U.S. defense giant which developed the stealth fighter.
Because the January 2022 accident was "bad luck" and did not involve any mechanical fault on behalf of the firm, the Korean military is expected to bear the repair costs.
The military said one of the options regarding the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet is to write it off.
An official from the Air Force said Tuesday the authority has been discussing with Lockheed Martin regarding what to do with the jet. After considering the economic and safety ramifications, a decision to trash or repair it will be made, the official said.
In 2022 the jet took off from a Korean military airfield in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province and was flying at an altitude of 330 meters when an eagle collided with it.
According to the Air Force, the magnificent winged creature went through the jet's bulkhead and was sucked into the machine's left vacuum pump, destroying hydraulic pipes and electricals for the jet's landing gear.
The pilot, with the landing gear destroyed, had to make a belly landing, which requires skilled maneuvering for a successful touchdown without destroying the plane. After emptying the fuel tank in midair, the pilot managed to bring the jet down to Seosan Airbase in South Chungcheong Province. No human casualties resulted from the accident.
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