South Korea and U.S. Launch Two-Week Freedom Flag Air Drills
The allies have begun a two-week exercise at Kunsan Air Base focused on counter-air operations, air interdiction and preparations for South Korea to lead combined wartime missions.
South Korea and the United States began a two-week combined air exercise on Monday, bringing together fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and other assets to strengthen their ability to conduct joint wartime operations.
The Freedom Flag exercise is taking place at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, about 180 kilometers southwest of Seoul. South Korea’s Air Force said the training will focus on defensive counter-air operations and air interdiction, which involves striking or disrupting hostile forces before they can reach a battlefield.
South Korean aircraft participating in the exercise include F-15K, KF-16 and F-35A fighter jets. The country is also deploying a KC-330 multipurpose tanker and transport aircraft and an E-737 Peace Eye airborne early warning and control plane.
The U.S. contingent includes Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopters are also taking part, alongside Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighters and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned surveillance aircraft.
During both daytime and nighttime operations, personnel from the two air forces will work in joint mission-planning cells. The arrangement is intended to allow the allies to exchange tactics and operational expertise while refining procedures for planning and carrying out missions in wartime.
The exercise will also assess the planning and execution of combined drills led by South Korea. That element is linked to Seoul’s longstanding effort to regain wartime operational control of allied forces from Washington. South Korea is seeking to complete the transfer by 2030 or sooner, subject to verification that it has the required command capabilities.
Wartime operational control remains one of the most consequential issues in the South Korea-U.S. security alliance. Although Seoul exercises operational control over its military during peacetime, command arrangements would shift under current plans if war broke out. The allies have said the transfer should be based on conditions and demonstrated capabilities rather than a deadline alone.
Freedom Flag was introduced in 2024 as a semiannual training framework. It replaced two separate large-scale exercises previously held by the allies: Korea Flying Training in the first half of the year and Vigilant Defense in the second half.
By combining a wide range of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, this month’s exercise reflects the growing importance of surveillance, coordinated targeting and integrated command systems in modern air operations. The two-week program is expected to test not only individual aircraft and crews but also the allies’ ability to plan and execute complex missions together under South Korean leadership.