UK fighter jet to join ROK-US drill

By Kang Seung-woo

South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom will hold their first joint aerial combat exercise here in November, the Air Force said, Thursday.

It said South Korean, British and U.S. air forces are scheduled to carry out the “Invincible Shield” exercise from Nov. 4 to 10 from Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

The South Korean Air Force has often held joint drills with its U.S. counterpart ― such as “Max Thunder” and “Red Flag” ― but it is the first time British fighter jets will join a drill here.

Britain plans to send four Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets, a Voyager tanker aircraft and a C-17 Globemaster military transport plane to the trilateral exercise, while the South Korean Air Force’s F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets and the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 fighters will participate.

The operation comes as the North Korean regime continues to increase tension on the Korean Peninsula, following its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9 and recent ballistic missile tests.

“The three-way exercise is aimed at improving the allies’ capabilities of attacking an enemy’s major military and leadership facilities, if provoked, but also at intercepting incoming aerial foes,” an Air Force official said.

“Through the exercise, the three countries will be able to bolster the interoperability of their military arsenals and joint operational capabilities in the event of conflict breaking out on the Korean Peninsula.”

Before the joint operation, the British Air Force plans to hold an exercise with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, in mid-October.

The South Korean Air Force said Britain’s participation in “Invincible Shield” will send a message of its commitment to defending South Korea from Pyongyang’s hostile acts as a member country of the United Nations Command during the Korean War.

“The three nation’s air forces will continue to expand joint operations and strengthen their partnership,” the Air Force said.