The U.S. Air Force announced on the 24th that the U.S. and South Korean air forces have begun annual joint air training. It was explained as an annual exercise to strengthen the U.S.-ROK joint readiness posture and interoperability. This is reporter Kim Si-young’s report.
The U.S. 7th Air Force said on the 24th, “The ROK Air Force Operations Command and the 7th Air Force will hold a large-scale joint exercise ‘Freedom Flag 24-1’ from October 21 to November 1, involving the U.S., ROK, and Australian air forces. “It’s in progress,” he said.
[미 제7공군] “The Seventh Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force Operations Command are hosting a combined large force exercise, Freedom Flag 24-1, with U.S., Republic of Korea, and Royal Australian Air Force participants Oct. 21 – Nov. 1, 2024. The event is part of an annual training schedule designed to enhance the combined readiness and interoperability of combined air component forces, with large scale, integrated training on advanced, high-end tactics, techniques and procedures against an advanced adversary.”
The 7th Air Force announced this in a press release on this day, saying, “This training is a large-scale integrated training on cutting-edge and advanced tactics and techniques, and procedures for countering a high-level enemy, improving the joint readiness and interoperability of the (U.S.-ROK) combined air force components. It is part of an annual training schedule designed to strengthen,” he explained.
Prior to the Freedom Flag 24-1 exercise of the U.S., South Korean, and Australian air forces held at Osan Air Base from the 21st to the 25th, soldiers from the U.S., South Korean, Australian, and British air forces are discussing tactics related to the Freedom Flag. (Photo source: Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense)
Meanwhile, in this two-stage training, air force commanders from both countries will gather from the 21st to the 25th to proceed with the process of establishing a face-to-face operation plan, and from the 28th to the 1st of next month, based on this, fighter jets and troops will conduct anti-aircraft, aerial interception, and close air operations. He added that they will be trained in CAS, combat search and rescue, airdrop, and airborne emergency rescue missions.
This training includes F-16 ‘Fighting Falcon’ and F-35B ‘Lightning II’ vertical takeoff and landing stealth fighters, A-10 ‘Thunderbolt II’ attack aircraft, E-3 ‘Sentry’ airborne early warning and control system (AWACS), U- 2 The 7th Air Force explained that a large number of US military aircraft stationed in the Korean Peninsula will participate, including the ‘Dragon Lady’, high-altitude manned reconnaissance aircraft, and MQ-9 ‘Reaper’ and MQ-1C ‘Gray Eagle’ attack and reconnaissance drones.
US Air Force flying during the ‘Vigilant Storm’ in 2022. (Photo source: Provided by the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff)
In addition, the ROK Air Force will participate with F-35A, F-15K ‘Slam Eagle’, KF-16, and FA-50 ‘Fighting Eagle’ fighter aircraft, transport aircraft, and aerial refueling tankers, and the Australian Air Force will also support the KC-30A aerial refueling tanker. Yes.
In addition, the 7th Air Force said that troops assigned to the Indo-Pacific region, including the U.S. Special Operations Command in Korea, the Korean Special Forces, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the Australian Air Force, will participate in the training.
“The Freedom Flag demonstrates the strength of the ROK-U.S. alliance and the joint commitment of the ROK-U.S. Air Force to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and the United States,” said 7th Air Force Commander David Iverson, who also serves as deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea, in a press release.
[아이버슨 7공군사령관] “Freedom Flag demonstrates the strength of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and the shared commitment of the ROK and U.S. air forces to the defense of the Korean peninsula and the United States. It enables us to work together to build the readiness we need, to deter our adversaries, and if that deterrence fails, to be ready to prevail quickly in any type of conflict. Although we focus on deterrence, every single day we are ready to defend both the Republic of Korea and the United States together with thousands of Airmen and hundreds of combat aircraft.”
He added that the training “allows us to work together to build the readiness we need to deter our adversaries and, if that deterrence fails, to be ready to quickly subdue any type of conflict.”
Kim Hyung-soo, commander of the ROK Air Force Operations Command, and David Iverson, commander of the U.S. 7th Air Force, are holding hands after completing an interview about the Freedom Flag 24-1 exercise at Osan Air Base on the 22nd. (Photo source: Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense)
The 7th Air Force, stationed in Osan, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, is a subordinate unit of the U.S. Pacific Air Force and is responsible for the air power of U.S. Forces Korea.
In a phone call with VOA on the 24th, David Maxwell, vice president of the Asia-Pacific Strategic Center and former chief of staff for operations at the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, analyzed that this exercise “sends a strong message about how important air power is not only in defending South Korea but also in defeating the North Korean military.”
[녹취:맥스웰 부대표] “I think it is sending a powerful message about how important air power is to the defense of the Republic of Korea but also how important it is to defeating the North Korean People’s Army. More importantly, it enhances the command & control capability, the ability to generate air power from the runway of airfields and very precise and sophisticated targeting process.”
He added, “This training will improve the command and control capabilities of the air forces of both countries, as well as the ability to launch and operate fighter jets and drones, as well as precise and sophisticated target selection procedures.”
Pilots of the Korean and Australian Air Forces greeting each other prior to the Freedom Flag 24-1 exercise of the U.S., South Korean, and Australian Air Forces, which will be held at Osan Air Base from the 21st to the 25th. (Photo source: Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense)
Previously, the U.S. and ROK Air Forces conducted patrol flights and combat deployment training in Korea’s forward areas as part of the annual joint exercise ‘Ulchi Freedom Shield 24 (UFS 24)’ in August, and also held the annual US-ROK Combined Forces Comprehensive Training in April. We have continued to conduct regular training, including conducting KFT 24).
Meanwhile, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Institute for American Studies issued a public statement on August 18, one day before the start of this year’s UFS training, saying, “As the collective military provocations of the United States and its followers become more severe, the deterrent power of justice to ensure peace and stability will be further strengthened.” There has been strong opposition to such joint training, claiming,
This is Kim Si-young of VOA News.
