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Asia

S. Korea, U.S. stage joint air drills

28 July 2023 12:58 (UTC +04:00)

South Korea and the United States staged joint regular air drills involving advanced fighter jets this week to improve combined operational capabilities, Seoul's Air Force said Friday, APA reports citing Yonhap News Agency.

The five-day Buddy Squadron exercise began Monday at the 17th Fighter Wing in Cheongju, 112 kilometers south of Seoul, involving some 10 aircraft, including South Korean F-35A stealth fighters and U.S. F-16s, according to the armed service.

It marked the first time for South Korean F-35As to be mobilized for the drills.

During the exercise period, the two sides staged live-fire drills with GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions over the Yellow Sea to enhance combined capabilities in precision strikes, the Air Force said.

Note that the previous joint aviation exercises of South Korea and the US Air Force took place on July 13, 2023 and the US strategic bomber "B-52H" was involved in the exercises.