US aircraft conduct night drills on Korean peninsula

(Baonghean.vn) - On October 11, the US-South Korea alliance said that two B-1B strategic bombers of the US Air Force participated in training with South Korean fighter jets on the Korean peninsula to show off force to Pyongyang.

B-1B bombers and fighter jets in a photo posted on the US Air Force website. Photo: Yonhap

According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the bombers took off from Guam and entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) at around 8:50 p.m. on October 10 (local time).

According to this source, they conducted a simulated air-to-ground missile launch exercise with two F-15K fighter jets flying over the Sea of ​​Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

The B-1Bs and F-15Ks later took part in another exercise in the Yellow Sea. The bombers flew out of the KADIZ at around 11:30 p.m., the JCS added.

The US military confirmed the midnight operation, saying its long-range, multi-role supersonic bombers, also known as Lancers, also conducted similar exercises with the Japanese Air Force.

The US 7th Air Division described it as a “sequenced bilateral mission” in the vicinity of South Korea.

This is the first time Lancer aircraft have conducted combined training exercises with Korean and Japanese aircraft at night, the unit said.

“Flying and training at night with our allies safely and effectively is an important shared capability between the United States, Japan and North Korea and increases the tactical skills of our pilots. This is a clear demonstration that we are capable of conducting continuous operations with all our allies anytime, anywhere,” said U.S. Air Force Major Patrick Applegate of the 613th Air Operations Center.

Ha asserted that the latest B-1B flight was part of a “regular deployment training program” aimed at enhancing the ability to enforce “extended deterrence” against North Korea.

The US military said this was a “continuous bomber presence mission” to demonstrate the country’s combat readiness in the Indian Ocean, Asia, and Pacific regions in the context of allies’ commitment to protecting security and stability in the region.

Late last month, the US flew B-1B bombers over international waters near North Korea's east coast in a separate nighttime operation. South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it appeared North Korea did not detect the secret operation at the time.

Phu Binh

(According to Yonhap)