S. Korea, U.S. kick off combined air drills this week

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SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States kicked off their combined air drills this week, focusing on counter-air and air interdiction missions aimed at enhancing wartime joint operations, the South's Air Force said Monday.

The Freedom Flag exercise began Monday for a two-week run at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, about 180 kilometers southwest of Seoul, involving the allies' key aerial assets, including the South Korean Air Force's F-15K, KF-16 and F-35A fighter jets, the armed force said in a release.

The KC-330 transport aircraft and E-737 Peace Eye early warning and control aircraft will also be deployed for the exercise.

The U.S. Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon jet, RC-135 reconnaissance plane and its Navy's MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, as well as the F-35B stealth fighter jet and the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned surveillance aircraft of the U.S. Marines Corps will also participate in the drills.

U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet combat aircraft of the U.S. Marine Corps prepare for takeoff during the Freedom Flag combined air exercise with the South Korean Air Force, at an air base in the southwestern city of Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on April 23, 2026, in this file photo provided by the South Korean Air Force. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The air forces will operate day and nighttime "mission planning cells" to exchange tactics and expertise, while refining wartime operational and mission execution procedures, the Air Force said.

The missions are designed to enhance interoperability and build wartime combined operational capabilities, such as defensive counter-air and air interdiction, it said.

Reflecting the changing modern warfare environment, the drills will also evaluate the planning and execution of South Korea-led combined exercises in line with the ongoing efforts for Seoul's retaking of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, the Air Force noted.

South Korea seeks to retake wartime OPCON from the U.S. by 2030 or at an earlier date by verifying its capabilities to lead the combined forces.

The semiannual Freedom Flag drills were launched in 2024 to replace regular large-scale air exercises between the allies -- the Korea Flying Training in the first half of the year and Vigilant Defense in the second half.

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) Air Force begins regular Soaring Eagle exercise

S. Korea, U.S. to begin joint Freedom Flag air drills this week

S. Korea, U.S. kick off combined air drills this week

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首尔，10月26日（韩联社）——韩国空军周一表示，韩国和美国本周启动了联合空中演习，重点是反空袭和空中拦截任务，旨在加强战时联合行动。

韩国军方在一份声明中表示，“自由之旗”联合军演于周一在位于首尔西南约 180 公里的群山空军基地拉开帷幕，为期两周。此次军演动用了盟军的关键空中力量，包括韩国空军的 F-15K、KF-16 和 F-35A 战斗机。

KC-330运输机和E-737“和平之眼”预警和控制飞机也将部署到演习中。

美国空军的F-16“战隼”战斗机、RC-135侦察机和海军的MH-60S“海鹰”直升机，以及美国海军陆战队的F-35B隐形战斗机和MQ-9“死神”无人侦察机也将参加演习。

2026年4月23日，在韩国西南部城市光州（距首尔以南约270公里）的一个空军基地，美国海军陆战队的F/A-18“大黄蜂”战斗机在与韩国空军举行的“自由之旗”联合空中演习中准备起飞。这张由韩国空军提供的资料照片显示，照片拍摄于韩国西南部城市光州。（照片不得出售）（韩联社）

空军表示，空军将昼夜运作“任务规划小组”，以交流战术和专业知识，同时改进战时作战和任务执行程序。

声明称，这些任务旨在增强互操作性，并建立战时联合作战能力，例如防御性反空袭和空中封锁。

空军指出，为反映不断变化的现代战争环境，此次演习还将评估韩国主导的联合演习的计划和执行情况，以配合首尔从华盛顿手中重新夺回战时作战控制权（OPCON）的持续努力。

韩国希望在 2030 年或更早的时候从美国手中夺回战时作战指挥权，为此，韩国需要验证其领导联合部队的能力。

2024 年启动了半年一次的“自由旗帜”演习，以取代盟军之间定期举行的大规模空中演习——上半年的“韩国飞行训练”和下半年的“警惕防御”。

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

（导语）空军开始定期“翱翔雄鹰”演习

韩国和美国本周将开始联合“自由旗帜”空中演习

韩国和美国本周启动联合空中演习