[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Secret Code Hidden in Fighter Jet Names

The alphabet of proper names varies by mission, and there are also nicknames
Nicknames for fighter jets like F-15K and KF-21 are given by the public

Last July, South Korea successfully completed the first test flight of its domestically produced supersonic fighter jet, the KF-21 (Boramae). This achievement came 72 years after the outbreak of the Korean War. KF stands for Korean Fighter, and 21 represents the 21st century. It means “a domestically produced fighter jet protecting the Republic of Korea in the 21st century.”

The Republic of Korea Air Force operates a variety of aircraft. Starting with transport planes, it possesses various types including fighters and trainers. Aircraft generally have both official designations and common names (nicknames), which vary depending on their mission. The official designation consists of English letters and numbers, such as F-15K, C-130, KT-1, KC-330, and KF-16. There is a simple rule hidden in these complex official designations. Knowing this rule allows one to understand the aircraft’s capabilities.

The letter preceding the official designation indicates the primary mission. A stands for Attacker, B for Bomber, C for Cargo (transport), F for Fighter, H for Helicopter, T for Training, E for Electronic Warfare, P for Maritime Patrol, R for Reconnaissance, and S for Anti-Submarine. For example, F-15 means a fighter, and C-130 means a transport aircraft. If the letter ‘K’ is added before the designation, it indicates that the aircraft has been upgraded or developed domestically, although there are exceptions like the KC-330. In this case, the ‘K’ is known to come from words like TanKer or Kerosene.

Aircraft also have nicknames. The F-5, introduced in 1965, was nicknamed the Freedom Fighter. At that time, the concept of a nickname did not exist in Korea, so the name given by the manufacturer, Northrop of the United States, was used as is. The F-4 Phantom II and F-16 Fighting Falcon are similar cases.

However, the KF-5 fighter, the first to be produced under license in Korea, was given a nickname directly. The government named it “Jeonhae” (meaning “Conquer the Sky”). The first domestically produced trainer, the KT-1, was nicknamed “Woongbi” (雄飛) by former President Kim Young-sam, meaning “Fly vigorously toward the future.”

Since then, the nicknames of aircraft introduced by the Air Force have been created from ideas by the public. The nickname for the E-737 airborne control aircraft, introduced in 2008, was decided through an online public poll. With 2,551 participants, it was named “Peace Eye,” meaning “the guardian watching over peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

The F-15K’s nickname is Slam Eagle. This name was also chosen through a public contest in 2005. “Slam” means “to strike,” and the name was inspired by the joint U.S.-Korean Air Force operational term “Grand Slam,” which means “all detected enemy aircraft have been shot down.”

The T-50 received the name “Golden Eagle” through a nationwide public contest. The Golden Eagle is a bird of prey known as the black eagle. The FA-50 was given the name “Fighting Eagle.” The KC-330, which was commissioned in 2019, is nicknamed “Cygnus,” referring to the constellation Cygnus (the Swan). The Air Force’s first stealth fighter, the F-35A, is called “Freedom Knight.” The U.S. military calls it “Lightning II,” meaning it strikes the enemy like lightning.

The nickname “Boramae” for the KF-21, given by the public, is a commonly used term. Boramae refers to a young falcon trained within its first year. Because it does not molt, the feathers on its chest have a purplish hue, hence the name Boramae. This is why Air Force cadets training to become fighter pilots are called Boramae. A park was created on the site of the Air Force Academy located in Daebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, and this park is also called Boramae Park.