[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence photo] Full-scale Attack Launched by ROK-US Air Forces

The Air Force conducted an Airborne Interception (X-INT) training exercise as part of the Korea-U.S. joint exercise "Freedom Shield" (FS).

According to the Air Force, the training was carried out under the assumption that friendly reconnaissance aircraft detected the movement of enemy mobile missile launchers and immediately faced a missile threat. The enemy information sent by the reconnaissance aircraft was relayed through the Mobile Command and Control Radar Center (MCRC) to friendly fighter jets on standby in the air. The friendly fighters shot down enemy surface-to-air missiles and enemy aircraft that scrambled in response, securing the safety of the reconnaissance aircraft. Subsequently, other fighters intercepted the cruise missiles launched by the enemy and destroyed the mobile launchers, concluding the exercise.

The training was conducted under the Air Combat Command, involving seven units including the 11th and 17th Fighter Wings, deploying about 20 aircraft such as F-35A, F-15K, and KF-16 fighters and reconnaissance aircraft. The Air Force evaluated that the coordination capabilities between pilots and the Mobile Command and Control Radar Center improved, and that the exercise helped cultivate the ability to respond to complex situations including enemy fighter infiltration, surface-to-air threats, and cruise missile launches.

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