By Kang Seung-woo
Six F-15K fighter jets will participate in a U.S.-led multi-service, multi-platform coordinated, combat operations exercise next month in Alaska, the Air Force said Wednesday.
The Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. forces, will take place in the state from Aug. 12 to 23 to train pilots from the United States and other allied countries.
In addition, the participation has extra significance, given that the Korean combat planes will make a flight from Daegu to Eielson Air Force Base for the first time.
The Air Force said that the aircraft will fly nonstop over 7,000 kilometers on the back of six or seven aerial refueling transactions.
F-15K has two Red Flag participations under its belt ― all of which took place at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in August 2008 and January 2012 ― but the aircraft were delivered directly from Boeing’s U.S. factory at that time via the first two phases of the F-X program.
The Korean contingent will be comprised of 90 officials including 26 pilots.
According to the Air Force, the aerial war game provides a joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment.
“The Korean Air Force will be able to experience real combat-like circumstances,” said an Air Force officer.
“The exercise will help to strengthen the Air Force’s combat capability.”