US F-16 Conducts Live-Fire Drill in West Sea...Short-Range Missile Launch

Lockheed Martin's F-16 fighter jet

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The U.S. military conducted live air-to-air firing training with F-16 fighter jets the day after Chinese and Russian military aircraft intruded into the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) without authorization.

The 8th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force Korea announced on the 4th that F-16 fighter jets belonging to the wing conducted live firing training in the airspace near Gunsan Air Base on the 1st. During this live firing training, the U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets fired AIM-9 short-range air-to-air missiles at simulated enemy targets. It is considered highly unusual for the U.S. military to publicly disclose live firing training of fighter jets.

The U.S. military released photos of the live firing and emphasized, "Gunsan Air Base, along with other military facilities, maintains a 'Fight Tonight' posture to ensure the capability to rapidly deploy aircraft upon notification and engage adversaries in the Indo-Pacific region."

They also explained, "Pilots from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons honed their jet combat capabilities and executed rapid response tactical measures."