[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Will Joint Exercises with US Indo-Pacific Command Increase for Power Reinforcement?

General Park Han-ki (right), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shakes hands with John Aquilino, Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, at the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 4th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] John Aquilino (Admiral), Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited South Korea on the 3rd. During his 4-night, 5-day visit, there is speculation that he may increase joint exercises with the U.S. 7th Fleet, which is enhancing its capabilities, while reaffirming the alliance between the South Korean and U.S. navies.

During his visit, Commander Aquilino emphasized, "The ROK-U.S. alliance is essential for regional peace and stability, and the strong relationship between our two navies will continue."

During Aquilino’s visit, the USS Blue Ridge also docked in Busan. Commissioned in 1970, the USS Blue Ridge has served as the flagship of the 7th Fleet for over 40 years and operates out of its homeport at Yokosuka, Japan. The Blue Ridge returned to Yokosuka in 2017 after undergoing extensive maintenance in the U.S. mainland.

The USS Blue Ridge commands aircraft carriers, Aegis destroyers, destroyers, and submarines of the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in East Asian waters, including around the Korean Peninsula. Inside, it operates four command centers: the Tactical Flag Command Center, Joint Operations Center, Joint Intelligence Center, and Amphibious Operations Command Post. During ROK-U.S. joint exercises such as the Key Resolve (KR) exercise, it commands amphibious operations and is known as the "Commander of the Sea." The Blue Ridge is 194 meters long, 33 meters wide, moves at a speed of 23 knots, and carries about 1,200 personnel including the 7th Fleet command staff and crew.

Recently, the U.S. Pacific Fleet also deployed the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The carrier strike group is expected to alternate missions between the Western Pacific operational area of the 7th Fleet and the South China Sea. For the time being, two carriers, including the USS Ronald Reagan based at Yokosuka Port in Japan, will be active in the Western Pacific operational area.

Among the forces comprising the Roosevelt carrier strike group is the USS Pinckney (DDG-91), an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer equipped with the "Baseline 7" system, the first to have intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) interception capability. Included in the group are also the USS Russell (DDG-59) and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) destroyers. The Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), equipped with land-attack Tomahawk missiles, also participates in the carrier strike group.

The U.S. has recently significantly strengthened the 7th Fleet’s capabilities, which is responsible for the Pacific region including the Korean Peninsula. The latest Triton (MQ-4C) unmanned reconnaissance aircraft has been deployed. The U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C arrived at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on the 26th of last month. The MQ-4C is expected to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions monitoring North Korea’s maritime illicit ship-to-ship transfers and the movements of Chinese vessels operating in the Pacific and South China Sea.

Previously, in October 2016, the U.S. Navy established the 19th Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP-19) at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida to operate the MQ-4C professionally. VUP-19 plans to initially operate two MQ-4Cs in Guam to cultivate early operational capability (EOC).

Developed by U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman as a naval version of the Global Hawk (RQ-4), the MQ-4C has the capability to continuously monitor maritime targets such as ships for 24 hours even under adverse weather conditions. It can fly for more than 24 hours at altitudes above 16 km, with an operational radius exceeding 15,000 km. It measures 14.5 meters in length, has a wingspan of 40 meters, weighs 14.6 tons, and can reach a maximum speed of 757 km/h. It is equipped with a high-performance multifunctional phased array (AESA) radar capable of all-around detection and an advanced inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) that interprets Doppler frequencies of radar waves reflected from targets to generate images.

Some expect that the reinforced U.S. Pacific Command will strengthen training exercises. The South Korean military has more than doubled its budget for overseas joint exercises this year. These include the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime maneuver exercises, Navy Western Pacific submarine escape and rescue training, Navy Sea Dragon exercises, and ROK-U.S. joint submarine rescue training.

A government official said, "During his visit, Commander Aquilino met with senior military leaders from each branch to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula and appears to have discussed joint exercises to replace the large-scale joint exercises that have decreased since the military agreement."