JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The runway at Osan Air Base, Korea, is undergoing necessary upgrades in order to improve the operational capability of the base, and will reopen in July.
This construction was planned a number of years in advance and was strategically scheduled to coincide with the normal deployment of A-10 Thunderbolts and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 25th and 36th Fighter squadrons, respectively, to Red Flag-Alaska 17-2 taking place at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Other squadrons that are departing Osan include the 731st Air Mobility Squadron, deploying to Suwon Air Base, Republic of Korea, and the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, deploying to Kadena Air Base, Japan, where they will both conduct normal operations out of their respective locations in support of both the Korean Theater of Operations and the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The 51st Fighter Wing strives for increased interoperability and training opportunities year-round and in various locations such as Alaska and Japan. This routine deployment of aircraft to Red Flag-Alaska is a prime opportunity for pilots and maintainers to integrate with partner and ally nations in order to maintain proficiency and improve interoperability. The movement of aircraft and personnel to Red Flag-Alaska provided an opportune time to conduct necessary runway upgrades.
Participating in Red Flag-Alaska and deploying to nearby locations ensures maintenance personnel and aircrew are able to continue to train and conduct day-to-day operations until runway maintenance at their home base is complete.