The South Korean and U.S. Air Forces recently deployed around 20 fighter jets in a joint training exercise to neutralize enemy military power through preemptive strikes on provocation sites. This ensures threats are eliminated before the enemy can complete their intended missions.
From November 4 to 7, South Korea’s 20th Fighter Wing, 123rd Fighter Squadron, and the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing, 35th Fighter Squadron, conducted the 24-6 Buddy Squadron exercise—a battalion-level joint air training exercise that brings South Korean and U.S. fighter pilots together on a single base to refine their combat skills and enhance interoperability.
This joint exercise, first launched in 1991 under the name Friendship Training in Korea, was renamed Buddy Squadron in 1997 and has continued under this designation, building decades of allied cooperation and readiness.
Approximately 20 fighter jets participated in this year’s exercise, including South Korea’s KF-16s from the 123rd Squadron and U.S. F-16s from the 35th Squadron. The allied forces practiced advanced joint air operation procedures, including Air Interdiction (AI) to disrupt and isolate enemy military forces from the battle area and Defensive Counter Air (DCA) to detect and intercept enemy aircraft attempting to attack or infiltrate allied ground and sea assets.
The South Korean 20th Fighter Wing assessed the exercise as a valuable opportunity to “improve joint operational capabilities and share the latest tactics through realistic training,” noting that “teamwork was further strengthened.” Major Kim Im Jun, a pilot from the 123rd Squadron of the 20th Fighter Wing, reflected on the exercise, stating, “We have once again confirmed our overwhelming joint capabilities, reinforcing our readiness to counter any threats effectively.”
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