Black Eagles Take Flight for Middle East Defense Exhibition [Yang Nakkyu's Defence Photo]

The Air Force's special flight team, the Black Eagles, departed for Saudi Arabia on January 28. This marks their first participation in the World Defense Show 2026, where they will showcase an air show. It is also the first time the Air Force is taking part in a defense industry exhibition in the Middle East. For this event, the Air Force is dispatching nine T-50B aircraft, four C-130 transport aircraft for personnel and cargo, and approximately 120 service members.

The Black Eagles will depart from Wonju Air Base and make stops in Naha, Japan; Clark, the Philippines; Da Nang, Vietnam; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Kolkata, Nagpur, and Jamnagar in India; and Muscat, Oman, covering a total distance of around 11,300 kilometers. They are scheduled to arrive at Riyadh Malham Airport in Saudi Arabia on February 2. The Black Eagles will conduct refueling at their first stop, Naha Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. In addition, they plan to hold an exchange event with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s special flight team, Blue Impulse.

Starting from February 9, the day after the opening ceremony, the Black Eagles will perform a total of 24 advanced maneuvers daily in front of international defense industry officials and the general public. The team will also present the Mugunghwa maneuver, which depicts five petals of the national flower, for the first time at an overseas air show. On February 7, the day before the air show opens, the Black Eagles will conduct a friendship flight with the Saudi Air Force’s special flight team, the Saudi Hawks. Eight Black Eagles T-50B aircraft and seven Saudi Hawks Hawk aircraft will take off from Malham Airport and fly in formation over Riyadh and major landmarks, aiming to enhance cooperation and trust between the two air forces.

Black Eagles T-50B aircraft taxiing to the runway under the guidance of a mechanic for takeoff on the 8th. (Photo by Republic of Korea Air Force)

The Air Force special flight team Black Eagles departed Wonju Base on the morning of the 28th to participate in the international defense industry exhibition (WDS) held in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Air Force)

The Air Force special flight team Black Eagles departed Wonju Base on the morning of the 28th to participate in the international defense industry exhibition (WDS) held in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Air Force)

The Air Force's special flight team Black Eagles departed Wonju Air Base on the morning of the 28th to participate in the international defense industry exhibition (WDS) held in Saudi Arabia. The photo shows the loading of cargo onto a C-130 transport aircraft the previous day. (Photo by Air Force)

The Air Force special flight team Black Eagles departed from Wonju Air Base on the morning of the 28th to participate in the international defense industry exhibition (WDS) held in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Air Force)

The Air Force's special flight team, Black Eagles, departed Wonju Base on the morning of the 28th to participate in the international defense industry exhibition (WDS) held in Saudi Arabia. The photo shows a Black Eagles pilot explaining the T-50B aircraft to Masahisa Miyazaki, Minister of Defense, and other officials from the Japanese Ministry of Defense and Air Self-Defense Force. (Photo by Air Force)

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