Between February 12 and 13, the United States and South Korean Armed Forces conducted a new combined exercise featuring the South Korean Army’s K2 Black Panther tanks. The drills took place in the city of Hongcheon and included participation from the South Korean Army’s 112th Mechanized Infantry Battalion and Special Forces, as well as the U.S. Air Force’s 25th Fighter Squadron and 607th Air Support Operations Group.
As part of the routine training between the military forces of both countries, this particular exercise aimed to have the 112th Battalion practice establishing and executing an improvised defense in response to a simulated attack. “Opportunities to train in a combined environment can be limited, so exercises like this are incredibly important for the U.S.-South Korea alliance,” stated U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Michael Murphy, ground liaison officer for the 51st Fighter Wing.
Additionally, this combined activity allowed the South Korean Armed Forces to gain insight into U.S. aerial assets and how they can provide close air support, as demonstrated by the participation of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft from the 25th Fighter Squadron. This squadron is based at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and is part of the 51st Operations Group of the U.S. Air Force currently deployed on the Korean Peninsula.
Lastly, the presence of South Korean tanks in this combined exercise was noted as somewhat unusual in recent years, especially with armored units acting as opposing forces. While no further details were provided, the formations of K2 Black Panther tanks were complemented by K200/A1 armored personnel carriers to transport infantry troops.
Lieutenant Colonel Justin Davis, commander of the U.S. Air Force’s 25th Fighter Squadron, emphasized: “It helped us practice how we would fight in a real scenario. If we receive a call for close air support, it could be for a U.S. unit or a South Korean unit. This training allowed them to understand what kind of support we can provide and helped us understand what kind of support they might need.”
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