South Korea’s F-35A stealth fighters and other key military aircraft experienced a surge in parts cannibalization between 2022 and mid-2024, data submitted to the National Assembly reveals. Cannibalization—the maintenance practice of removing operational parts from one aircraft to satisfy repair needs on another—jumped as global supply chain disruptions delayed standard component deliveries.
Records provided to Representative Yoo Yong-won of the ruling People Power Party by the Republic of Korea Air Force show that across all fleet types, 30 distinct core equipment categories underwent cannibalization from 2022 through July 2024. These interventions touched critical flight domains including piloting systems, power and electrical generation, mission avionics, and flight safety gear.
F-35A Stealth Jet Cannibalization Jumps
Among South Korea’s tactical jets, the F-35A stealth fighter recorded a relative increase in parts stripping per airframe. Records show that the average number of cannibalization events per F-35A airframe stood at 0.6 in 2022, before climbing to 3.5 incidents per aircraft over the course of 2023. Through the first seven months of 2024, the rate registered at 1.8 incidents per aircraft.
Specific hardware components affected on the F-35A included data encryption devices, optical channel switches, input/output signal processors, and control stick grips.
Widespread Parts Reallocation Across F-15K, KF-16, and FA-50 Fleets
The maintenance strain extends beyond the stealth fleet, affecting tactical and transport aircraft in the South Korean inventory. The F-15K fleet saw its per-airframe cannibalization rate climb from 0.8 incidents in 2022 to 1.5 incidents in 2023. The rate held steady at 1.5 incidents per aircraft through July 2024, matching the previous year’s total pace.
Components shifted between F-15K airframes included servo cylinders, cockpit displays, radio transceivers, and engine starters. Meanwhile, the KF-16 fighter fleet saw per-aircraft rates rise from 0.6 incidents in 2022 to 1.7 incidents in 2023, settling at 1.0 incident per airframe by July 2024. Generator control units and alternating current generators accounted for the primary KF-16 parts reallocations.
The FA-50 fleet experienced an increase from 0.5 cannibalization events per aircraft in 2022 to 2.3 events in 2023, with 1.4 events recorded per airframe through July 2024. Core items shifted among FA-50 units included integrated mission computers, radar processors, multi-function probes, and alternating current generators.
F-5 Jets and C-130 Transports Grapple With Ongoing Shortages
Older airframes continue to rely on internal parts harvesting to maintain operational readiness. The F-5 fighter fleet recorded cannibalization involving forward auxiliary aileron actuators and radar transmitters and receivers.
Transport operations faced similar pressures. The C-130 transport aircraft fleet logged 1.8 cannibalization events per airframe in 2022, rising to 2.9 events in 2023 and registering 2.7 events through the first seven months of 2024. Engine components and circuit breakers accounted for the primary items swapped across the transport wing.
Air Force Diversifies Procurement to Reduce Aircraft Cannibalization
Air Force officials attributed the rise in aircraft cannibalization to international logistical failures. The service stated that worsening global supply chains and material procurement bottlenecks degraded the production and repair capabilities of manufacturing contractors.
To counter the trend, military authorities are pursuing overseas procurement diversification and developing domestic maintenance capabilities. These initiatives aim to shorten turnaround times for replacement parts and reduce reliance on inter-aircraft part swapping across all frontline squadrons.
