US F-35 fighter jets deployed to Korea for key summertime drills

U.S. F-35 fighter jets have been deployed to the Korean Peninsula to join the ongoing summertime combined exercise between Korea and the U.S., an official at U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Monday. The deployment of reportedly some 10 F-35 variants comes as the allies' annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise is under way for an 11-day run that will conclude Thursday. Both the F-35A and F-35B, respectively assigned to the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps, have been deployed to Kunsan Air Base under the temporary deployment, according to the USFK official. During their deployment, the U.S. fighter jets were set to train with Korean counterparts, with a focus on defensive counterair maneuvers and strengthening integrity, to enhance their combined readiness and deter potential threats in the region. Both considered key U.S. air assets, the F-35A operates from traditional runways with greater range and payload for strike and air superiority, while the F-35B is capable of flexible operations from ships or austere bases based on its short takeoff and vertical landing capability. The temWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times