South Korean Air Forces Tech Tree

Should South Korea be added to the game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
Should it be with or without North Korea?
  • South Korean Tree
  • South Korea + North Korea sub tree
0 voters

Hello, and welcome to my suggestion for the South Korean Air Forces tech tree. This is somewhat of a direct continuation of my first post for the Ground Forces tech tree and as such is starting at tier IV. This will make it similar to the Israeli tech tree as it is implemented in game currently, and makes sense due to the history of the Republic of Korea Air Force in which is what founded after the end of World War II and its splitting with Japan. During the early stages, the Republic of Korea Air Force (hereon referred to as ROKAF) was no more than a simple training wing, with no more than 1,800 personnel across its entirety. This drastically changed upon the start of the Korean War, where the USAF was tasked with improving the efficacy of the ROKAF, by training the pilots in needed experience and skills, as well as donating a large number of F-51D fighters to combat the North Korean Yak-9 and La-7’s donated by the Chinese and Soviet Union.

After the ending of the Korean War, the ties with the United States only grew stronger, and even to this day there are cooperative agreements with the United States and companies that work with them, that have such a high level of trust that may not even be afforded to NATO countries. The most recent example of this being the KF-21 Boramae which has major contributions from the US Air development firm Lockheed Martin. This tree would have most of its force be made up of modifications of US aircraft, and is more of a supplement to a ground tree. As such there will also be a second tech tree at the bottom that will include one line of North Korean vehicles to supplement the basic tech tree if that would be needed for implementation.

Tech Tree:
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Hereafter, I will provide a list of the vehicles so that I may explain them in greater detail, as well as provide context for each of their inclusions inside of the tree.

Vehicles with a * next to their name are indicated as such due to them being too modern for the current game, and as such would be a later addition.

Vehicles:

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Tier 4

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Branch 1

T-28

The T-28 Trojan was the second trainer the ROKAF obtained from the USAF in an attempt to bolster the power of the Korean Airforce. It was only used as a trainer, and never used during the Korean War, but one of the models was converted to a D model, which gave it two underwing hardpoints capable of mounting .50 caliber machine guns.

Pictures:

T-37C

The T-37C Tweet is another trainer sent by the USAF to supplement the need for jet trainers in the ROKAF. This would provide an invaluable amount of help in training the Koreans in jets, while also allowing for there to be a secondary co-pilot in case the pilot was unable to control it on his own.

Pictures:


Branch 2

F-51D-30-NT

Coming from the proud family of the P-51, the F-51D-30-NT has a few differences over its counterparts already in game. The F designation as opposed to the P designation occurred in 1947 when the USAF split from the US Army. The D-30-NT has almost everything you’d expect from the D-30 already found in game, however the propellers are different, being the Hamilton Standard 4-blade version that had a more flat tip.

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Tier 5

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Branch 1

F-86F-40

The ROKAF F-86-F40 would be functionally identical to the one already in game in the Japanese tech tree.

Pictures:


Branch 2

A-37B

Cessna made quite an aircraft in the A-37B Dragonfly. Compared to its predecessor, the T-37 Tweet, the Dragonfly had expanded in size to be almost double its former, and had almost three times the thrust to make up for it, making it possible to push it to a maximum speed of 816 km/h. This version also was mounted with an internal 7.62 minigun in the nose. While the caliber in game doesn’t seem large, when you’re putting 6000 rounds per minute downrange, I don’t think anyone wants to be one the receiving end. The plane was also capable of loading 8 hardpoints with dumb bombs, or SAU/11A or B gunpods, which also contained the GAU-2B minigun.

Pictures:


F-86D-35

The F-86D-35 is a slightly improved version of the normal F-86D interceptor. This vehicle was only able to carry 24 Rockets on the underside, however was designated as an interceptor for hunting down bombers due to its high speed and maneuverability.

Pictures:


Tier 6

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Branch 1

F-5A

The F-5A already in game, but for the ROKAF.

Pictures:

Branch 2

KF-5F

The KF-5F was a modified F-5E combat trainer, which gave it a second seat behind it allowing for a copilot. This lowered the maneuverability of the F-5 but gave it the advantage of being used to train pilots on a near identical platform to what they would be flying in their sorties.

Pictures:


Branch 3

F-4D

The F-4D was one of the most produced phantom II’s from the united states, so it is no surprise that they ended up in the hands of Korea. This was a dedicated interceptor, and would be extremely similar to the F-4C already in game, save a few minor modifications to the airframe. It did not include the internally mounted gun you would find on its predecessor, the F-4E

Pictures:


Tier 7

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Branch 1

KF-5E

The KF-5E is a Korean licensed production of the F-5E Tiger II. It would be functionally identical to the F-5E already found the US and Chinese trees.

Pictures:


Branch 2

TA-50

The TA-50 is the attack version of the T-50 trainer, Korea’s first domestically produced fighter aircraft. This aircraft was produced due to the need for a trainer for the F-16, as well as to supplement the air fleet of the ROKAF. This aircraft found itself to be supremely capable, thus allowing for the creation of the TA-50, the attack variant. This variant a 20mm A-50 3 barrel rotary cannon, as well as 7 hardpoints allowing for the mounting of 6 air to air sidewinders, as well as a multitude of air to ground weapons including the AGM-65 Maverick.

Pictures:
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Branch 3

F-4E

The F-4E is functionally Identical to the F-4E found in the US tree, but due to its later use in the ROKAF, this could have the option of mounting AIM-9L as well as AIM-7F, included with its agile eagle package, justifying the 11.3 BR increast.

Pictures:


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Tier 8

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Branch 1

KF-16 Block 32*

The KF-16 Block 32 is an advanced Block 32 F-16 that was licensed produced in South Korea. This block was capable of carrying not only the current weapons found in game on the F-16AJ, but was also capable of carrying the AGM-88 HARM, as well as the AIM-120 AMRAAM Active Missile. The difference of the Block 32 from the standard Block 30, was it retained its original P&W engine, while the Block 30 received the improved General Electric engine giving it more power.

Pictures:
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KF-16 Block 52*

The KF-16 Block 52 was a vast improvement from the Block 32, giving it better engines, conformal fuel tanks that can be removed at will, allowing for longer range missions, as well as a brand new AESA RADAR with a helmet allowing for HMD Locking and Firing of missiles. It also worked with mounting more advanced versions of the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder.

Pictures:



Branch 2

FA-50

The FA-50 improves upon the TA-50 in every single way you can imagine. This model improves the radar, and adds data link systems that allow it to communicate with other aircraft digitally inside the battlespace. This version also allows for more modern precision guided munitions, as well as possibly having a MAWS system integrated, though this is still classified. Later Block 20 versions are being developed allowing for the mounting of AIM-120 AMRAAMs.

Pictures:



Branch 3

F-15K**

The F-15K is what happens when you take the F-15E and tell the Koreans to have fun. The vehicle has a HMD, as well as massive 13,000KG of payload capacity, combined with the ability to mount modern AIM-120C and AIM-9M missiles. However, for implementation, the F-15K is also capable of carrying later models of the AIM-7 Sparrow missile. However, even with those limits, the capability of the F-15K cannot be overstated in how dominant its performance is, and would be in game.

Pictures:
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Now onto the Secondary Tree, this tree simply adds a single line as a fourth branch including vehicles used by North Korea. This exists purely to supplement the tree incase this many aircraft is not enough for the developers. The vehicles inside the tree are almost entirely copies of vehicles already seen in the Russian and Chinese tech trees.

Tech Tree +:
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And with that we come to a close for the South Korean Air Force tech tree. I hope this tree will provide proof of the efficacy of the South Korean tree, and show that it is capable of being implemented into the game as its own tree. As always any additional sources to fix information inside of this is much appreciated, as well as any feedback related to the post.

Premium vehicles would be possible as models of the T-50, as well as below that the F-5B.

Sources:

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Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Forgotten Props - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

P-51 Mustang Variants - P-51K - MustangsMustangs.com

North American T-28 Trojan - Wikipedia

Cessna T-37 Tweet - Wikipedia

North American P-51 Mustang - Wikipedia

Cessna A-37 Dragonfly - Wikipedia

List of U.S. aircraft gun pods - Wikipedia

GAU-2B/A - Air Force M134 - Army

Republic of Korea Air Force - Wikipedia

18-502 | North American F-86D Sabre | South Korea - Air Force | Gwon Im | JetPhotos

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196376/bout-one-building-a-south-korean-air-force/

F-86D-35-NA | This Day in Aviation

Northrop F-5 - Wikipedia

F-4D Phantom II | Museum of Aviation

https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104557/aim-9-sidewinder/#:~:text=The%20Sidewinder%20was%20developed%20by,in%20the%20Southeast%20Asia%20conflict.&text=The%20AIM-9%20has%20a,stabilizing%20rear%20wing%2Frolleron%20assembly.

F-4D Phantom - The Collings Foundation

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle - Wikipedia

North American Aviation T-28 Trojan/Fennec Registry - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

Pilot's Post - North American T-28 Trojan

https://www.koreaaero.com/EN/Business/FA50.aspx

https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f-15k-slam-eagle/

2 Likes

Too few options on the poll, had to hit no.
Must be a subtree for another nation that could use the equipment augmentation alongside the ground tree IMO.
Needs rank 1 - 3 as well for new tree support from me.

6 Likes

aka the Nuclear (Japan) option, huh?

Anyway the North Korea tree is kinda lackbustre without the Chinese jets like F-7, A-5 and the Soviet MiG-23 and Su-25. I am still conflicted on that though, since the only worthwhile CAS from North Korea is Su-25. (Others are fighters which does not help much to improve the ability to form a good ground RB lineup.)

1 Like

The North Korean side of this lineup is a bit up in the air, as there are a lot of vehicles they can use at most BR’s. I tried to have the SU-7 and TU-2 for CAS, and didn’t want to put too many vehicles in the tree right away so it didn’t get bloated, and made it so Dev’s could add more in future updates. But of course, any of the vehicles on there could be traded out for better options and I agree there could be some improvements.

+1 Personally. I think aircraft rank 6-8 from ROKAF better japan tech tree

TA-50 Golden Eagle & FA-50 Block 10 Fighting Eagle from ROKAF great light combat aircraft of the world and great close air support

3 Likes

+1, always been a fan of ROKAF aircraft and their liveries, and I need something to keep the skies clear if we ever get Korean ground forces as well.

3 Likes

We already have SaabGripen’s United Korean Aviation Tech Tree. It is the best way to add North&South Korea as a new nation in war thunder.

4 Likes

No this is really pushing it for new nations

Most here can have a GE skins while others can be event vehicles

Can’t believe I was so foolish as to think the block 32 and block 52 are too advanced for the game LOL

Would be better as
South korea line for japan
North Korea line for china

7 Likes

Pakistan for China > North Korea for China

3 Likes

Pakistan as gap-fillers and premiums

No… Pakistan as sub-tree.

DPRK has jack when it comes to shared hardware with China and have take more influence from Iran and USSR.
Pakistan on the other hand has plenty of joint programmes with China, both relatively old and new, thus making much more sense for China than DPRK.
Besides, United Korea could work easily as an Israeli styled independent tree.

5 Likes

from what I’ve seen most of their tech is late soviet, not related to china really. Also why does everyone want SK for japan when they have literally zero relation to each other lol

6 Likes

Because it will give japan more content, and interesting stuff at that.

1 Like

Many other countries can provide Japan with Unique stuff but you know some players suggest the worst to illogical options.

4 Likes

+1, though may I suggest that the issue of a lack of aircraft can be solved by including Indonesia and the Philippines? They are both quite close to the ROK and can definitely fill up some gaps, and to a much better degree than any aircraft from the DPRK

1 Like

Gib FA-50 (especially the future Blk 20 w/ BVRAAM), KF-5F, and KF-21 Fighter Jets.


KF-21 Fighter Jet.

FA-50 Light Fighter Jet.
KF-5F Light Fighter Jet.

2 Likes