United States and South Korea They started this Tuesday an aerial war gamesome directed maneuvers against North Koreawhile Washington modernizes its power air in its East Asian ally, incidentally.
The exercise between the two allies comes after North Korea, which has , will test its new hypersonic missile earlier this month. This was also Pyongyang’s first missile test of the year.
The US military is its fleet of aircraft in the western Pacific Ocean to better counter threats posed by China and North Koreaincluding the replacement of older generation fighter jets stationed in Japan, another US ally country in East Asia.
The four-day exercise, code-named Buddy Squadrontakes place at an air base in Wonju, southeast of the South Korean capital, Seoul, and involves FA-50 fighter jets and KA-1 attack aircraft from South Korea, as well as A-10 attack aircraft sent by the US Air Force.
According to the South Korean air force, the bilateral exercise aims enhance alliance capabilities in executing joint operations such as air support and combat patrols.
According to South Korean media, reviewed by it is expected that this will be the last exercise in which the A-10 models. The plane, which carries more than four decades operating in South Koreais specially designed for provide air support to ground forces and is used against targets such as tanks and other armored vehicles.
As part of the U.S. Air Force’s modernization strategy, the 25th Fighter Squadron, stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea, A withdrawal of two dozen A-10 aircraft began this month in favor of more advanced fighter jets already stationed in South Korea, including modernized F-16 fighters..
This is a “deliberate change” towards the introduction of aircraft latest generationwhich will significantly improve the US operational effectiveness and force posture, ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific regionincluding the Korean Peninsula, the US Air Force said.
It is planned, incidentally, to retire more aircraft from the A-10 fleet while strategizing against China, which has introduced next generation fighter jets. That withdrawal of aircraft based in South Korea is scheduled for September 30 of this year, 2025.
It remains to be seen whether the Washington will send new fighter jets to South Korea as it phases out aging A-10 aircraft.
The US Air Force emphasized in a press release: “The strategy [de modernización] strengthens deterrence against North Korea and reaffirms strong US security commitment to the South Korea-US alliance by strengthening the combined defense of South Korea and the United States.”
The Osan air base explained, for its part, the characteristics of the A-10 aircraft: “The A-10 Thunderbolt II has excellent maneuverability at low speeds and altitudesand it is a weapons launching platform very precise and with great survivability. “The aircraft can remain close to battle zones for long periods of time and operate in low visibility and cloud ceiling conditions.”
