Seoul: South Korea and the United States kicked off a joint large-scale air exercise Thursday, the South's Air Force announced, in efforts to bolster their interoperability and combined readiness posture against North Korean threats. The semiannual Freedom Flag exercise, which runs through May 2, involves the mobilization of approximately 1,100 troops and 90 aircraft from both nations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the assets mobilized for the two-week drills include South Korea's F-35A, F-15K, and KF-16 fighter jets, as well as the U.S. F-16 and F-35 B fighters and MQ-1 and MQ-9 drones. Over the course of the exercise, troops will engage in key air operations training programs, including air interdiction, defensive counter air, combat search and rescue, and close air support exercises.

For the first time, stealth fighter jets, such as the F-35, will assume the role of "red air" enemy forces to enhance pilots' practical combat capabilities. The Freedom Flag exercise was introduced last year to replace previous large-scale air exercises between the allies, specifically Korea Flying Training in the first half of the year and Vigilant Defense in the latter half.