First Participation in F-35 Stealth Fighter Pair Training

Live-Fire Training with US Forces at West Sea Maritime Firing Range

Our Air Force's 5th generation fighter jet, the F-35A, participated in the Ssangmae training for the first time. Ssangmae training is a battalion-level joint air exercise conducted jointly by the Republic of Korea Air Force and the U.S. Air Force since 1997.

On the 28th, the Air Force announced that from the 24th to the 28th, at the 17th Fighter Wing, about 10 aircraft including our Air Force's F-35A fighters and the U.S. Air Force's 8th Fighter Wing F-16s were mobilized to conduct the 'Ssangmae training.'

During the training period, the ROK-U.S. Air Forces conducted live-fire exercises with GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) at the West Sea firing range, enhancing the combined precision strike capabilities of both countries.

Major Choi Seon-gyu, an F-35A pilot from the 17th Fighter Wing, said, "Through the participation of our F-35A, it became an opportunity to strengthen integrated tactics and interoperability between 4th and 5th generation fighters with the U.S. side, and to further solidify our readiness for decisive battle."

Major Matthew Bitner, who was in charge of the U.S. training, said, "Seeing the Korean fighter pilots take the training seriously, I could feel their resolute will to defend their homeland," and added, "It allowed me to foster pride in protecting the skies of our allied nations together."

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