According to the Air Force, the U.S. and South Korean Air Forces will conduct live-fire exercises at the Western Sea Shooting Range from today until the 28th as part of their joint military drill, Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS).
Under the direction of the South Korean Air Force’s Air Combat Command, this exercise will involve over 60 aircraft, including South Korean F-35A, F-15K, (K)F-16, FA-50, and F-5 fighters, KA-1 airborne control attack aircraft, and U.S. A-10 attack planes.
On the first day of the exercise, F-35A fighters launched AIM-120C air-to-air missiles, while KF-16 fighters deployed GBU-31 air-to-ground precision-guided bombs.
The AIM-120C is a medium-range air-to-air missile capable of targeting multiple threats simultaneously and tracking automatically. It has a range of over 60 kilometers (37 miles).
The GBU-31 is a GPS-guided bomb with a precision guidance kit designed to penetrate reinforced concrete up to 3.3 feet thick.
The training aims to enhance pilots’ operational capabilities using live munitions and to assess their response procedures to potential provocations from North Korea. This may include simultaneous launches of cruise missiles, unmanned attack aircraft, and long-range artillery.
Upon identifying targets simulating North Korean cruise missiles and unmanned attack aircraft, F-35A and F-15K fighters promptly took off to launch air-to-air missiles and neutralize the threat.
At the same time, South Korea’s KF-16 and FA-50 fighters, along with the U.S. A-10 attack aircraft, dropped air-to-ground bombs to neutralize the sources of North Korean provocations.
Major Cha Seung Min of the 152nd Fighter Squadron, the 17th Fighter Wing, commented, “While we conduct numerous training exercises regularly, the experience of launching live munitions is invaluable for both me and the entire Air Force.” He added, “We are committed to maintaining a strong posture to respond swiftly to enemy provocations.”