The South Korean and US air forces are set to begin a joint aerial exercise at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, located 65 kilometers south of Seoul, to boost interoperability. The Buddy Squadron exercise, scheduled from Monday to Friday, will see South Korea’s KF-16 and US F-16 fighter jets, along with the F-35A and FA-50 aircraft, engaging in combined operations training. This year, the Air Force plans to double the participating forces per session, increase sorties, and reduce annual training sessions to four from eight.
The Buddy Squadron exercise, a battalion-level drill alternated between the South Korean and US air forces, focuses on sharing air-to-air tactics and conducting integrated tactical training involving fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets. In response to queries about the training session reduction and North Korea’s objections to joint drills with the US, an Air Force official clarified that the decision was made collaboratively. Lt. Col. Jang Dong-ha stated that the training session adjustment was a result of consultations between South Korea and the US, considering the decommissioning of US A-10 aircraft and asset restructuring.
Addressing concerns about a potential weakening of Washington’s security commitment to the Korean Peninsula, the official highlighted that the number of participating aircraft has more than doubled compared to previous years. Additionally, there will be a significant increase in sorties, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to security. Last year, the US military phased out its aging A-10 aircraft in South Korea as part of its modernization efforts in response to evolving security challenges.
