Max Thunder 10-02 concludes

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eric Burks
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Max Thunder 10-02, a bilateral training exercise designed to demonstrate interoperability between U.S. and ROK military forces on the peninsula, concluded Oct. 22 at Kwangju AB, ROK.

More than 600 U.S. and ROK Airmen and 37 aircraft deployed to Kwangju Oct. 15 to execute and sustain flight operations. This year's Max Thunder was also the first to feature the 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Base, Alaska, as the primary "enemy threat."

ROKAF and U.S. pilots flew a combined 260 sorties, representing the most robust Max Thunder Exercise to date.

Col. Youngkwan Ryu, 29th Tactical Fighter Weapons Group commander and ROK Air Force exercise commander, said Max Thunder was very successful during an outbrief Oct. 22 at the Kwangju base theater. The colonel thanked exercise participants from both nations for their hard work and dedication.

"I believe the most important effect of Max Thunder was strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance," said Colonel Ryu. "This exercise not only improved our capabilities to ensure peace and security on the peninsula, but to respond to threats across the world."

Exercise missions were comprised of scenarios where combined flight formations engage in air warfare against unexpected hostile air provocation and perform tactical bombardments on targets, according to a ROK Air Force news release. U.S. Air Force F-16 aircraft from Osan and Kunsan Air Bases flew with ROK Air Force KF-16s, F-15Ks, and F-4Es from Daegu, Cheongju and Seosan Air Bases.

There was also a cross-command flight Oct. 21 to show the solidarity of the ROK-US alliance. ROK Air Force Brig. Gen. Jung Jaebu, Air Force Operations Command vice commander flew in a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon while Brig. Gen. Scott Dennis, 7th Air Force vice commander, flew in a ROK Air Force F-16.

The large-scale exercise replicated the scenarios and planning cycles of RED FLAG Nellis and provided invaluable large-force employment training for U.S. and ROK military forces, according to 7th Air Force. Max Thunder exercises in the ROK are conducted once annually at a U.S. air base, and once at a ROK air base. Kunsan hosted Max Thunder 10-01 in May.

While a majority of the exercise players departed Kwangju Oct. 22, Airmen from Osan's 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron worked though the weekend to ensure the safe return of cargo and personnel. Osan deployed 85 personnel and 33 short tons of cargo in support of Max Thunder 10-02.

To view a slideshow of highlights from the exercise, click here.