ROKAF, USAF Undertaking Large Scale Five Day, 24-Hour Live Flight Training Exercise

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and US Air Force (USAF) are undertaking a large scale 24-hour live flight training exercise.

Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield will feature five ROK-US air wings for the first time with 120
consecutive hours of day and night sorties planned for five days.

A total of 2,000 sorties are planned with a large force of F-15Ks, FA-50s, and KF-16s from the ROKAF’s 11th, 16th, and 20th Fighter Squadrons and F-16s and A-10s from the USAF’s 8th and 51st Fighter Squadrons.

“Through this training, we will enhance the completeness of the established operational plan, maximize our wartime mission execution capabilities, and establish a military readiness posture that allows us to win with the operations we want in any situation at any time, and achieve peace through strength,” ROKAF Air Force Operations Commander Lieutenant General Kim Hyung-soo said in a release.

“Conducting exercises of this scale and nature is a necessary part of our readiness posture here in the Republic of Korea,” said U.S. Air Force Col. William McKibban, 51st FW commander. “Integration like this is what we’re here to do, to show everyone that we are ready to fight tonight when needed, from the tactical level all the way up to the operational.”

Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield will see combat aircraft from both sides undertake real-world training during day and night, such as Defensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction, and Airborne Alert Interdiction.

Over the course of the exercises, a virtual enemy formation will be deployed to simulate infiltration of high-speed enemy aircraft and launch of cruise missiles. The air units participating in the training will also undertake Field Mobility Training to support air operations such as “mass munitions assembly,” “maximum armament loadout,” and “emergency return and re-departure,” to improve their operational sustainment support capabilities.

This is the first time that multiple ROK-US Air Force squadrons are simultaneously conducting 24-hour live flight training missions. “Through this training, the ROK-US Air Force will go beyond reviewing wartime planned air missions and verify their ability to execute air operation plans in multiple domains, including at sea and on land,” an ROKAF spokesperson said.

Prior to this exercise, the largest ROKAF-US Air Force 24-hour live flight training exercise had involved one squadron of aircraft.

Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield concludes this August 23.