Korea-US Begin Ssangyong Exercise Today... US F-35B Also Deployed

By the 7th of next month, along the East Coast and around Pohang, Gyeongbuk

From the 26th, the joint amphibious landing exercise between the Republic of Korea and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, ‘2024 Ssangryong Exercise,’ will be conducted. Strategic weapons, including the U.S. F-35B fighter jets, are also expected to participate in the exercise.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the military on that day, the ROK-U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will conduct the joint amphibious landing exercise ‘2024 Ssangryong Exercise’ along the east coast and around Pohang, Gyeongbuk, until September 7, aimed at strengthening the alliance’s combat readiness and improving interoperability. This is an annual exercise that has been conducted since 2012.

This year’s exercise will involve a division-level landing force and over 40 vessels including large transport ships Dokdo and Marado (LPH), the U.S. amphibious assault ship USS BOXER (LHD), landing ships Ilchulbong, Cheonjabong, and Cheonwangbong (LST-II), frigates, and minesweepers. About 40 aircraft from both countries will participate, including U.S. F-35B fighters, Marine Corps amphibious assault helicopters Marineon (MUH-1), Air Force transport aircraft (C-130), as well as about 40 amphibious assault vehicles (KAAV). The British Royal Marine Commando unit will also take part.

This year, the ROK and U.S. Marine Corps will form a combined staff group for the first time. The combined staff group will embark on the large transport ship Marado (LPH) to command the landing operation and verify command and control capabilities. The exercise will proceed from pre-departure meetings to loading troops and equipment according to the landing operation phases, escort operations while moving to the target area, and assault training in sequence.

In particular, during the decisive action phase to be conducted in early September, combined and joint ROK-U.S. forces will deploy on a large scale both at sea and in the air. Through this, the alliance aims to strengthen the ROK-U.S. combined amphibious landing operation capabilities.

Landing Mobile Force Commander Brigadier General Cho Chung-ho, commander of the 5th Mine and Amphibious Warfare Group, said, "Through this exercise, we will enhance interoperability between the navies and marine corps of both countries and elevate the alliance’s combat readiness to the highest level."