Inside Korea’s Largest Combat Training Exercise

Seventh Air Force has launched airpower training as part of Freedom Shield 25, a major joint exercise between the United States and Republic of Korea. Held March 10–21 across the Korean peninsula, the training-focused event aims to strengthen combat readiness through live, virtual, and field-based scenarios.

The training integrates U.S. and ROK air forces in realistic joint and combined operations, with participation from the 8th and 51st Fighter Wings, 607th Air Operations Center, and 607th Air Support Operations Group. Personnel will rehearse operations from planning through tactical execution, enhancing response capabilities across domains.

Aircraft including F-35s, F-16s, A-10s, MQ-9 Reapers, and CV-22 Ospreys are training alongside ROK F-35As, F-15Ks, KF-16s, and support aircraft in live-fly scenarios. These complex missions emphasize interoperability between 4th and 5th generation platforms.

For the first time, the 11th Air Task Force is participating to support command and control and agile mission generation. Seventh Air Force units will also apply agile combat employment concepts, training to project and sustain airpower from dispersed sites.

Freedom Shield 25 aligns with the Mutual Defense Treaty and supports the Armistice Agreement, ensuring that allied forces are trained and prepared to respond effectively to any contingency.