All Air Force Fighter Aircraft Models Gathered in One Place

Elephant Walk Training at Air Force Suwon Base
33 Fighter Jets Including Retiring F4 Phantom Gathered

All types of fighter jets owned by our Air Force gather in one place. This is the first time all types have conducted operations simultaneously.

According to the Air Force on the 8th, 8 F-4E Phantoms are at the center, joined by F-15K, KF-16, F-16, FA-50, F-5, and F-35A fighter jets to conduct the "Elephant Walk" training. The training held at Suwon Air Base on this day is linked with the first half of the Korea-U.S. joint exercise, Freedom Shield (FS) exercise.

"Elephant Walk" is a type of ground taxi training conducted by the Air Force. The name comes from the image of military aircraft moving in a line, resembling elephants walking together on the African savannah. The goal is for fighter jets and bombers fully armed with missiles and other weapons to wait on the runway and quickly take off in preparation for full-scale war or emergencies.

A total of 33 fighter jets participated in the training. Leading the Elephant Walk formation is the F-4, which is scheduled to retire in June. This honors and celebrates the honorable retirement of the Phantom. The F-4 showcased its might equipped with air-to-ground missiles such as the AGM-142H (Popeye), AGM-65D (Maverick), and MK-82 500-pound bombs.

Our Air Force first introduced the F-4 Phantom in 1968. It was the first introduction in Asia. The heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, triggered by incidents such as the North Korean armed infiltration at the Blue House and the capture of the USS Pueblo by North Korea, were the starting point. The AGM-142 Popeye air-to-ground missile launched by the F-4 had a devastating explosive power capable of penetrating 1.6 meters of reinforced concrete. With a maximum range of about 100 km and an error margin within 1 meter, it became a missile feared by North Korea. Until 1989, a total of 80 F-4Ds (Block 26-28) were introduced. Known as the "MiG Killer" and "Ghost of the Sky," it has protected the skies over the Korean Peninsula for over 50 years. After introducing the F-4D, our Air Force operated about 220 units including the upgraded F-4E and reconnaissance RF-4C. Currently, most have retired, with only about 10 F-4Es still on duty.

Major Kim Dohyung, an F-4 pilot, said, "I feel honored to be part of the Phantom fighter jet’s final active service period," and added, "With pride as a Phantom pilot, I will firmly protect the Republic of Korea."