The Majesty of USS George Washington Participating in Freedom Edge [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Jeju Southern Offshore Freedom Edge Exercise by Korea-US-Japan
Trilateral Media Disclosure... Strengthening Power with Stealth Carrier-Based Aircraft

On the afternoon of the 14th, in the international waters south of Jeju, a dark gray F-35C stealth fighter jet appeared beyond the deck of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The arresting wire, a device used to land the F-35C that quickly descended against the headwind onto the deck, caught and stopped the aircraft. The heat emitted by the powerful engine raised the temperature on the flight deck to a midsummer level.

On Thursday, November 14, the three countries of Korea, the United States, and Japan are conducting the '24-2nd Freedom Edge' trilateral multi-domain exercise in the southern waters off Jeju. Aircraft such as F-35C, F/A-18, and Osprey are conducting launch and landing training on the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington. (Photo by Joint Chiefs of Staff)

From the 13th to the 15th, during the ongoing Freedom Edge exercise, the South Korea-US-Japan alliance invited the press from the three countries aboard the USS George Washington to showcase the participation of the fifth-generation fighter F-35C in the training.

The USS George Washington demonstrated rapid and powerful power projection capabilities by launching two F-18 fighters on emergency sorties within just about ten minutes and recovering two F-18s and one F-35C.

The 24-2nd "Freedom Edge" multi-domain exercise involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan is being conducted in the southern maritime area of Jeju. In the front row at sea is the U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington, in the middle row the Korean Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin, in the back middle row the U.S. Dewey, in the front left row the Japanese Haguro, in the back left row the U.S. Higgins, in the front right row the Korean Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, and in the back right row the U.S. McCampbell. In the air, South Korean, U.S., and Japanese fighter jets are maneuvering. From the top row left, the first and second are Korean F-15Ks, the third is a U.S. F-35C, the fourth and fifth are Japanese F-2s. From the bottom row left, the first is a U.S. F-18, the second and third are Korean F-35As, the fourth is a U.S. F-35C, the fifth and sixth are Japanese F-2s, and the seventh is a U.S. F-18. (Photo by Joint Chiefs of Staff)

In particular, the US side actively revealed not only the formation flight of the F-35C and F/A-18 but also several F-35Cs filling the hangar to the press, showcasing the might of the US strategic asset, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, strengthened with stealth carrier-based aircraft.

Freedom Edge exercise commanders from South Korea, the US, and Japan?including Rear Admiral Heo Seong-jae, Commander of the Republic of Korea Navy 7th Fleet; Rear Admiral Gregory Newkirk, Commander of the US 5th Carrier Strike Group; and Vice Admiral Takashi Natsui, Commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 4th Escort Flotilla?met the press on the bridge. They explained the significance and outcomes of the exercise.

Commander Newkirk of the 5th Carrier Strike Group stated that the second Freedom Edge exercise involved more forces than before and successfully conducted more complex training in various domains.

On Thursday, November 14, the three countries of Korea, the United States, and Japan are conducting the '24-2nd Freedom Edge' trilateral multi-domain exercise in the southern waters off Jeju. Aircraft such as F-35C, F/A-18, and Osprey are conducting launch and recovery training from the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington. (Photo by Joint Chiefs of Staff)

Regarding the purpose of the exercise, Commander Heo said, "This exercise reflects the will of South Korea, the US, and Japan to deter and respond to threats undermining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region, such as North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches."

Also, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who visited the USS George Washington that day, said the US is becoming stronger alongside its allies. Ambassador Emanuel emphasized the importance of South Korea-US-Japan military cooperation, stating, "Freedom Edge is not the last exercise."

Despite changes in the US political landscape, including former President Donald Trump's re-election bid, the Freedom Edge exercise, which was promised to be regularized through the Washington Declaration, is expected to continue.

On Thursday, November 14, the three countries of Korea, the United States, and Japan are conducting the '24-2nd Freedom Edge' multi-domain exercise in the southern waters off Jeju. Aircraft such as F-35C, F/A-18, and Osprey are conducting launch and recovery training from the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington. (Photo by Joint Chiefs of Staff)

Freedom Edge is a multi-domain exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability among the three countries and demonstrating the commitment to safeguarding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula.

This exercise involves South Korea's ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong (DDG), ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (DDH), maritime patrol aircraft P-3, and fighter jets F-35A and F-15K. The US participates with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN), USS Higgins (DDG), USS McCampbell (DDG), carrier-based aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft P-8, and fighter jets F-35A. Japan participates with the JS Haguro (DDG), maritime patrol aircraft P-3, and fighter jets F-15J and F-2.