Air Force shifts F-16s back to Kunsan after 2-year ‘super squadron’ test in South Korea

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — The Air Force has begun moving F-16 Fighting Falcons back to Kunsan Air Base, unwinding a two-year experiment that concentrated fighters at Osan to test whether larger squadrons could fly more combat missions.

Several F-16s flew from Osan to Kunsan on Sept. 15 as part of what the Air Force calls its Fighter Squadron Reset, according to a Monday statement from 7th Air Force.

The move will leave the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan and return the 35th and 80th fighter squadrons to Kunsan, 7th Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Laura Hayden said by email Wednesday.

She declined to say how many F-16s are moving between the bases, citing operational security.

“The decision to return the F-16s on the Korean Peninsula to a three-squadron structure leverages the strategic advantages of both Osan and Kunsan Air Bases while increasing operational flexibility,” Hayden wrote.

The Air Force began its “super squadron” experiment in October 2024. It was designed to determine whether putting more aircraft, pilots, maintainers and other personnel together in a larger squadron would allow the Air Force to get more fighters into the air and ready for combat.

During the first phase, nine F-16s and about 150 aircrew and support personnel moved from Kunsan to Osan, increasing the 36th Fighter Squadron to 31 aircraft.

The Air Force tracked how the larger squadron affected the number of missions it could fly, aircraft maintenance, staffing and the movement of supplies and equipment.

Seventh Air Force said in April 2025 that the first phase produced some improvements in readiness and combat capability but also exposed unspecified problems.

The Air Force then expanded the experiment, moving more of the 8th Fighter Wing’s remaining F-16s from Kunsan to Osan.

“The Super Squadron test provided valuable data and critical insights for F-16 operations across the U.S. Air Force,” Hayden said.

The Air Force has not publicly released detailed results showing how the larger squadron performed, including whether it increased the number of missions flown or improved maintenance and staffing.

Pacific Air Forces announced April 23 that it had decided to end the experiment and again divide the F-16 force between Osan and Kunsan.

A command news release said operating fighters from both bases would give the Air Force more options for where and how it could operate during a crisis or conflict.

It also said the experiment provided lessons for the Air Force’s effort to disperse aircraft and personnel among multiple locations rather than relying heavily on a small number of large bases.

The Air Force has not publicly announced when the reset will be completed.

“The transition to Kunsan is being implemented in deliberate phases,” Hayden said.