US Marine Corps' Latest Stealth Fighter F-35B, First Deployment on the Korean Peninsula

Landing at the 4th Gunsan Base
Participation in Vigilant Storm

US F-35B fighter jet landed at Gunsan Base [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The U.S. Marine Corps' latest stealth fighter, the F-35B, has landed on Korean soil for the first time.

According to the U.S. 7th Air Force Command in Korea on the 1st, four F-35B aircraft operated by the U.S. Marine Corps' 242nd Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA-242) arrived at Gunsan Air Base. These forces, previously stationed at the U.S. military base in Iwakuni, Japan, were deployed to Korea to participate in the joint U.S.-South Korea air exercise "Vigilant Storm," which runs from the 31st of last month through the 4th of this month.

Unlike the F-35A, which can only be deployed from ground bases, the F-35B is capable of vertical takeoff and landing. It can take off and land not only on land but also on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, allowing it to sortie in various environments during emergencies.

A U.S. 7th Air Force official explained, "As part of the annual joint and combined fighter training of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command, these fifth-generation fighters share Korean airspace with the U.S. 8th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Korea Air Force's 38th Fighter Squadron."

Both the U.S. 8th Fighter Wing and the ROK Air Force's 38th Fighter Squadron are stationed at Gunsan Air Base, operating F-16 and KF-16 fighters respectively.

For this Vigilant Storm exercise, the ROK Air Force is deploying about 140 assets, including F-35A, F-15K, KF-16 fighters, and KC-330 aerial refueling tankers. The U.S. Air Force has mobilized around 100 aircraft, including the F-35B, EA-18 electronic warfare aircraft, U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance planes, and KC-135 aerial refueling tankers. The Royal Australian Air Force is also participating by deploying one KC-30A aerial refueling tanker.

During the exercise period, the two countries plan to conduct a record-scale 1,600 sorties. This is interpreted as a strong warning to North Korea, which has recently raised the level of provocations through consecutive military demonstrations after completing preparations for its 7th nuclear test. Previously, in December 2017, after North Korea's consecutive major provocations such as the 6th nuclear test and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches, the U.S. and South Korea mobilized about 260 military aircraft over the Korean Peninsula.

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