South Korean and U.S. Air Forces Begin Freedom Flag Exercise
To be held in Gunsan through November 6
The South Korean and U.S. Air Forces will launch the large-scale Freedom Flag air exercise. Held twice a year, once in the first half and once in the second half, the exercise aims to improve the forces' ability to conduct combined operations and their survivability. This will be the second exercise of the year, held in the second half.
According to the Air Force on October 26, the two-week exercise will take place at Gunsan Air Base from October 26 through November 6. The name Freedom Flag combines “Freedom,” symbolizing liberal democracy, with “Flag,” a term widely used for combined Air Force exercises. It conveys the commitment to defend freedom and peace on the strength of the solid combined defense posture of the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces.
A large combined air force from South Korea and the United States will take part in the exercise. The South Korean Air Force will deploy F-5E/F, F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets; FA-50 light attack aircraft; F-35A stealth fighter jets; a KC-330 aerial refueling tanker; C-130J transport aircraft; an E-737 airborne early warning and control aircraft; and HH-47 and HH-60 search-and-rescue helicopters. The U.S. Air Force will deploy F-16 fighter jets, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and KC-135 aerial refueling tankers; the U.S. Navy will deploy MH-60S maritime helicopters; and the U.S. Marine Corps will deploy F-35B stealth fighter jets and MQ-9 unmanned attack aircraft, among others.
During the exercise, the South Korean and U.S. forces will carry out missions including defensive counterair (DCA), airborne alert interdiction (XINT) and air interdiction (AI) to strengthen interoperability. They also plan to operate a day-and-night Mission Planning Cell (MPC) to develop procedures for conducting operations and missions in wartime. In particular, reflecting changes in the modern warfare environment, they will assess their ability to operate fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets together and hone the latest tactics through realistic scenarios involving the operation of simulated enemy aircraft. They will also plan and conduct combined exercises led by the South Korean side in preparation for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON).
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“Through intensive, realistic training, we will share strategies and expertise between the two countries suited to the modern battlefield environment and continue to develop our combined defense posture,” said Lee Seung-hwan, a colonel and head of the Operations Training Division at the Air Force Operations Command. “We will use this as an opportunity to strengthen teamwork between South Korean and U.S. pilots and hone their combat skills, while building the capabilities needed for the transfer of OPCON.”
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