'US Special Operations Osprey Flying Near Pohang'

A CV-22B special operations vertical takeoff and landing aircraft belonging to the U.S. Forces Korea was reported to have flown over the East Sea near Pohang, Gyeongbuk.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been revealed that a CV-22B special operations tiltrotor aircraft belonging to the U.S. Forces Japan flew over the East Sea near Pohang, Gyeongbuk. The flight of the CV-22B tiltrotor aircraft from Japan to the East Sea near the Korean mainland is considered highly unusual, and analysts interpret it as an intention to send a 'strong alliance' message to North Korea.

According to the aircraft tracking site 'No callsign' on the 29th, one CV-22B special operations tiltrotor aircraft belonging to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) departed from Japan on the 28th and flew over the sea adjacent to Pohang.

Cases of the CV-22B flying from Japan to the East Sea are very rare. This tiltrotor aircraft is known to have landed at Pyeongtaek Osan Air Base during the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise Foal Eagle in April 2018. According to the U.S. Forces Japan Yokota Air Base website, the CV-22B special operations tiltrotor also participated in the 'Gryphon Jet' training at Yokota Air Base and others from the 17th to the 26th of last month.

This aircraft, which transports special forces personnel, is equipped with the AN/APQ-186 radar featuring eight modes including directional tracking, air-to-ground ranging, and weather detection. The CV-22 is a special operations variant of the Marine Corps MV-22 tiltrotor. It is equipped with additional fuel tanks and terrain-following radar, enabling it to covertly infiltrate dozens of special forces personnel into target areas.

On the 27th, the U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bombers also completed joint U.S.-Japan exercises near Japan. The training and flights conducted around the anniversary of the Korean War armistice visibly demonstrated the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s extended deterrence capabilities within its operational area. Two B-1B Lancers that took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam flew near Japan on the 27th and conducted joint exercises with two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighters. During the training, the B-1Bs received aerial refueling from a KC-135 tanker based at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

The U.S. Air Force explained regarding this training, "We enhanced interoperability and support capabilities by training with allied and partner nations," adding, "The Japan F-2 fighters improved interoperability and readiness through joint operations with the B-1B."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.