South Korea-U.S. Conduct Large-Scale Combined and Joint Maritime Maneuver Exercise

The Navy conducted a large-scale combined and joint maritime maneuver exercise in the West Sea with the Air Force, the U.S. Navy and other forces.

According to the Navy on October 20, the exercise, which runs from October 20 through 23 as part of the 2026 Hoguk Exercise, was organized to improve the forces' ability to conduct combined and joint maritime operations and strengthen military readiness. More than 20 Navy surface ships took part, including the Aegis destroyer ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, a 7,600-ton-class vessel; the destroyer ROKS Gang Gam-chan, a 4,400-ton-class vessel; and the ROKS Eulji Mundeok, a 3,200-ton-class vessel. Combined and joint forces, including maritime patrol aircraft from the South Korean and U.S. navies and Air Force fighter jets, also participated in the exercise.

Chungnam (FFG-III, 3,600 tons) (first from right) conducts live-fire drills during a maritime maneuver exercise in the central waters of the West Sea on the 25th. The Navy will conduct exercises across the East, West, and South Seas from March 25 to 27 to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day. About 30 surface ships from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fleets and the Task Fleet, along with submarines, Navy P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, and Air Force KF-16 fighter jets, will take part in realistic drills tailored to various types of enemy provocations, including live-fire exercises against surface, submarine, and aerial targets. 2025.03.26 Photo by Joint Press Corps.

The exercise includes maritime maneuver drills, live-fire naval gun exercises, maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, and combined maritime counter-special operations force (MCSOF) operations to strengthen the forces' ability to respond to various enemy provocations.

Brig. Gen. Jung Seung-il, commander of the 2nd Maritime Combat Group, who is leading the exercise, said, "This is a realistic maneuver exercise designed to ensure that service members fully master their assigned missions in a range of combat situations." He added, "Through intensive training, we will firmly maintain our military readiness so that we can prevail whenever we fight."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.