【Air Force】Air Force hosts combat training exercises in Alaska with US, Japan, South Korea forces

Korean Japanese
Air Forces from Australia, the US, Japan and South Korea participated in RF-A(Exercise Red Flag Alaska), a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, Joint National Training Capability accredited exercise.

In one of the exercises, a Japanese C-130 cargo plane was escorted by four South Korean F-15 fighter jets as it flew through a series of simulated attacks.

It's the first time Japanese and South Korea air forces have jointly trained in Alaska or anywhere. Pagano said that seeing two major U.S. allies practicing together is likely to be a highlight of this month's exercises. "We have allies that are now on the same sheet of music able to cooperate, integrate" he said.

For the Red Flag exercises, Japan and South Korea each sent six F-15s, air-to-air combat planes. RF-A 13-3 runs through Aug. 23.

An F-15 Eagle from the Japan Air Self Defense Force arrives for RED FLAG-Alaska

Gen. Ilhwan Sung, Republic of Korea Air Force chief of staff, and Brig. Gen. Mark Kelly, 354th Fighter Wing commander, pose for a group photo with Republic of Korea airmen.