The Republic of Korea Air Force, along with the U.S. Navy and Air Force, conducted a joint F-35 training exercise on March 13, further reinforcing their combined defense posture.
As part of the 2025 Freedom Shield (FS) exercise, the training included F-35A fighter jets from the ROK Air Force’s 17th Fighter Wing, F-35C jets from the U.S. Navy’s 97th Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA-97), and F-35A jets from the U.S. Air Force’s 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
The exercise was designed to assess joint operational capabilities across all domains, including ground, air, sea, space, and cyber, while enhancing the ability to respond to rapidly evolving threats. It aimed to strengthen combat readiness and integrated operational execution.
Notably, naval air assets launched from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) participated in live-flight training, further deepening the integration of forces.
Prior to the joint exercise, ROK-U.S. Air Force F-35A units conducted dynamic targeting and aerial refueling drills, demonstrating their capability to detect, identify, and neutralize various threats.
Lieutenant General David Iverson, Commander of the U.S. 7th Air Force, emphasized that the joint training involving 5th-generation fighters from both the ROK Air Force and U.S. Navy was a crucial demonstration of overwhelming combat readiness and capability. He added that the integration of advanced forces and weaponry across all domains reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the ROK-U.S. alliance to safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
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