The United States has reached new trade agreements with Switzerland and South Korea, eliminating tariffs on aircraft and parts. This restores tariff-free access for manufacturers and operators in both countries, following similar zero-tariff arrangements with the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
A South Korean Air Force F-16C fighter jet crashed during nighttime training on February 25, 2026, with the pilot ejecting safely and being rescued. According to Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) statements, the aircraft went down at around 19:31 local time near Yongsan-ri in Anjeong-myeon, Yeongju.
South Korea's Air Force scrambled fighter jets after nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on December 9, 2025. According to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the planes were detected and identified before entering the ADIZ and withdrew without incident.
South Korea has completed the KF-21 flight test program, marking a key milestone in the development of its indigenous fighter jet. The program successfully completed approximately 1,600 flight tests over a 42-month period without accident, verifying the aircraft's flight stability and performance.
L3Harris has begun converting two Bombardier business jets into Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for South Korea. The work is part of a $1 billion contract awarded to the US firm in September 2025, with four Global Express 6500 jets to be converted in total.
Korean Air and four sister airlines in the Hanjin Group are set to become South Korea's first carriers adopting SpaceX's Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi. Beginning installation in late 2025, the five carriers plan service launches starting mid-2026, with fleet-wide rollout targeted by 2027.