ROK-US air drills cut in frequency, expanded in scale

Feb 10, 2026, 08:16 am

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South Korean Air Force F-35A fighters and U.S. Air Force F-16 fighters conduct the Buddy Squadron joint air exercise in July 2023. / South Korean Air Force

The South Korea–U.S. Air Force battalion-level joint air exercise known as the Buddy Squadron will be held half as often this year, while the scale of each iteration will more than double.

According to the Republic of Korea Air Force, the combined exercise is under way at Osan Air Base through Feb. 13. This year’s first drill brings together the ROKAF’s 121st and 111th Squadrons flying KF-16s and the United States Air Force 35th Fighter Squadron with F-16s. To enhance integrated operations between fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, ROKAF F-35A and FA-50 aircraft will also take part.

ROKAF pilots moved to Osan to complete local procedures along with safety and security briefings. During the exercise, ROK and U.S. pilots will share air-to-air tactics and conduct integrated fourth- and fifth-generation fighter operations.

The drills apply realistic scenarios that reflect lessons learned from modern warfare. The two sides will alternate roles as Blue Team and Red Team in adversarial training and will also form combined ROK-U.S. formations to rehearse joint operations, aiming to strengthen overall operational capability through diverse tactical training methods.

This year’s Buddy Squadron program reduces the annual number of exercises from eight to four. However, aircraft participation per iteration will be expanded by more than twofold, and the number of sorties will increase substantially.

A ROKAF official said the adjustment reflects force restructuring following the U.S. Air Force’s retirement of the A-10 aircraft last year, noting that the changes were made through bilateral consultations. “While the schedule has been adjusted, the number of participating aircraft and the overall training volume—sorties and flight hours—will be operated at more than double last year’s level,” the official said.

#ROK-US joint air exercise #Buddy Squadron #South Korean Air Force #U.S. Air Force #KF-16