Air Force Conducts 'Desert Flag' Training in UAE... 13 Countries Including Korea, US, UK Participate

The Air Force announced on the 15th that it will participate in the '2025 Desert Flag' exercise held at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for three weeks starting from the 21st. Desert Flag is a large-scale multinational joint exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force, held annually to enhance interoperability and joint operational capabilities among participating countries.

This year, 13 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany are participating. The Republic of Korea Air Force has been participating since 2023, making this the third year. The exercise is conducted in the fighter and mobility aircraft sectors, with the Korean Air Force participating in the mobility aircraft sector. The exercise involves one C-130H transport aircraft from the 5th Air Mobility Wing, along with about 30 personnel including pilots, maintenance crews, loadmasters, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC), and Combat Control Teams (CCT).

The personnel participating in the exercise will conduct day and night low-altitude infiltration, cargo drops, and unpaved runway landing training over three weeks. Through this, they plan to enhance joint operational capabilities and improve operational understanding in unfamiliar environments such as deserts and high-threat battlefield situations. Notably, this exercise will see the UAE Military Training Cooperation Group (ARC Unit) high-altitude team and Joint Fires Observers (JFO) participate for the first time in joint high-altitude parachuting and close air support training.

Colonel Jo Gi-yeol, the commander of the exercise and director of the 5th Wing Inspection and Safety Office, stated, "Through this exercise, we expect the skills of all mission personnel, including pilots, to improve significantly by conducting joint training with various countries in unfamiliar operational environments." He added, "We will do our best to strengthen operational capabilities not only through realistic training but also through exchanges and tactical discussions with mission personnel from other participating countries."