Participating in Multinational Joint Exercises in the Middle East Region Again This Year

The Air Force will participate in the ‘2024 Desert Flag’ training. Desert Flag training is a multinational joint exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force, and this year marks the second time following last year.

On the 16th, at the Seoul base, training participants are reporting their departure to Brigadier General Lee Hyun-hee, Commander of the Air Force 15th Special Mission Wing. (Photo provided by the Air Force)

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According to the Air Force on the 16th, the Desert Flag training, held at Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), will take place from April 19 to May 10. This year, 10 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France are participating.

This exercise involves one C-130H transport aircraft from the 15th Special Mission Wing, along with about 30 personnel including pilots, maintenance technicians, combat control teams (CCT), loadmasters, and joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC). The training focuses on enhancing interoperability and combat capabilities among participating countries.

During the approximately three-week training period, the Republic of Korea Air Force plans to conduct ▲ low-altitude infiltration and cargo drop training ▲ tactical takeoff and landing training at austere airfields ▲ electronic warfare mission capability enhancement training.

In particular, based on lessons learned from actual operations such as the 2023 ‘Promise Operation’ and the ‘Operation Supporting the Return of Israeli Nationals,’ the Air Force will conduct training aimed at deploying and returning troops in the shortest possible time. Additionally, this year, formation flying and joint tactical discussions with the UAE C-130 squadron are planned.

The Air Force expects to achieve training outcomes including ▲ improvement of joint operation capabilities and understanding of operations in the Middle East and desert environments ▲ mastery of threat response tactics to enhance survivability in high-threat battlefield situations ▲ verification of rapid deployment capabilities.

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