[Report] Navy Conducts First Fleet-Level Maritime Maneuver Exercise with Three Aegis Destroyers Deployed

Mobile Fleet Command Holds First Fleet-Level Exercise Since Establishment
Navy Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Naval Ensign on King Jeongjo

"Enemy aircraft identified! Red air defense alert issued! All personnel, battle stations!"

On the afternoon of November 10, tension filled the combat information center of the 7,600-ton Aegis destroyer Ryu Seongryong, located about 70 kilometers (40 miles) east of Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. Multiple aircraft and missile activities had been detected. Crew members of the Ryu Seongryong promptly donned helmets and life jackets in response to the battle stations announcement, swiftly preparing for air defense. This was part of a training exercise simulating a wartime scenario in which the Ryu Seongryong detected multiple aircraft and guided missiles.

Beginning on November 9, the Navy launched its first fleet-level maritime maneuver exercise involving the simultaneous deployment of three Aegis destroyers in the southern and eastern seas for three days and two nights. This exercise was the first fleet-level maritime maneuver conducted at sea by Commander Kim Inho (Rear Admiral) of the Mobile Fleet Command and his staff since the command was established in February.

Unlike the existing regional fleets (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fleets), the Mobile Fleet is tasked with conducting mobile task force operations in mission-designated waters to achieve maritime superiority according to the situation. Its main missions include executing sea-based operations as part of the Korean three-axis system, conducting mobile task force operations in waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula, and responding to transnational and non-military threats. In emergency situations, the fleet is also responsible for achieving maritime superiority in its mission area, conducting ballistic missile detection, tracking, and interception operations against North Korean ballistic missiles, and carrying out precision strikes on key targets using long-range strike capabilities.

Thunderous Gunfire from Naval Guns... Advanced Maritime Maneuver Training

At 11:00 a.m., the Ryu Seongryong was stationed in the waters near Pohang, where a Navy UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter carrying reporters landed on its stern helipad. The waves that morning were 1.5 to 2.0 meters high, but the UH-60 landed stably despite the swell.

Looking back from the bridge, the Aegis destroyer Yulgok Yi I (DDG, 7,600 tons), the destroyers Wang Geon and Gang Gamchan (DDH-II, 4,400 tons) were following the Ryu Seongryong. In this first fleet-level exercise by the Mobile Fleet Command, a total of seven ships-including the Aegis destroyer King Jeongjo (DDG, 8,200 tons), the logistics support ships Cheonji and Daebong (AOE-I, 4,200 tons)-and three aircraft participated.

At approximately 11:40 a.m., naval gunfire was conducted to neutralize enemy vessels. Upon the commander's order, 5-inch (127mm) naval guns on four ships, including the Ryu Seongryong, fired thunderously. A total of 60 shells were fired by these four ships. Water plumes erupted around targets approximately five miles (about eight kilometers) away.

In the afternoon, the fleet maneuver exercise was observed from the vertical launch system (VLS) deck at the stern. Leading the formation as the flagship, the Ryu Seongryong flew the two-star flag, followed by the King Jeongjo (flying the naval ensign to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Navy's founding on November 11), Yulgok Yi I, Wang Geon, Gang Gamchan, Cheonji, and Daebong, forming a column formation. The King Jeongjo, the largest Aegis destroyer currently in the Korean Navy, flew the naval ensign for the anniversary celebration.

As the fleet moved in column formation, it soon transitioned to a complex formation with a diamond-wedge shape, maintaining a distance of 500 yards (about 450 meters) between ships. In this formation, the Ryu Seongryong led, with the King Jeongjo and Wang Geon to the left, Yulgok Yi I and Gang Gamchan to the right, and the logistics support ships Cheonji and Daebong in the center. The Aegis destroyers and destroyers maneuvered on the outer perimeter to take the lead in air defense, while the logistics support ships in the center were protected.

While sailing in the complex formation, the fleet closed the interval to as little as 300 yards (about 270 meters). A Navy official explained, "A 300-yard interval is extremely close for ships. While it does not have tactical significance, it demonstrates the fleet's exceptional ship-handling skills."

Tense Combat Information Center... Multiple Aircraft and Missiles Intercepted with SM-2 Missiles

That afternoon, the Ryu Seongryong's combat information center conducted an air defense exercise simulating an attack by multiple enemy aircraft and guided missiles. As blue lights illuminated the center, the air defense coordinator gave the order for "all personnel, battle stations," prompting the crew to quickly don life jackets and helmets and carry out their assigned tasks.

Korean Navy Aegis destroyers are known to be capable of simultaneously engaging up to 20 targets. With the King Jeongjo, Yulgok Yi I, and Ryu Seongryong all participating in the exercise, the fleet could respond to dozens of simultaneous targets.

As enemy aircraft continued to advance southward, the Ryu Seongryong prepared to provide area defense for friendly forces using SM-2 surface-to-air missiles. Following instructions from the air defense coordinator and tactical controller, the Ryu Seongryong launched an SM-2 missile, causing the enemy aircraft to disappear from the SPY radar screen. The tactical controller then reported the successful interception, and the detection, tracking, and interception exercise for multiple aircraft concluded.

Next, a scenario involving multiple guided missile engagements was conducted. After the tactical controller received a report from the senior radar operator about unidentified flying objects, orders were given to use detection and tracking equipment to identify the targets. Through electronic warfare equipment analysis, the Ryu Seongryong determined that the unidentified objects were enemy guided missiles. The ship intercepted the enemy missiles with SM-2 missiles, and the use of weapon control equipment confirmed that the enemy missiles had been shot down, concluding the exercise.

Through this exercise, the Navy reaffirmed the operational capabilities of the Mobile Fleet to carry out assigned missions anytime and anywhere. The participating forces conducted complex response training-including anti-ship, anti-submarine, and air defense exercises-while moving between the southern and eastern seas without being restricted to a specific area of responsibility, reflecting the unique nature of the Mobile Fleet. In addition, ballistic missile detection and tracking drills further enhanced the operational capabilities of the fleet as a core component of the sea-based Korean three-axis system.

Commander Kim stated, "Through this first fleet-level maritime maneuver exercise, we were able to confirm the operational capabilities of the Mobile Fleet to carry out assigned missions anytime and anywhere. We will continue to conduct realistic training to ensure overwhelming victory in times of crisis and maintain a robust military readiness posture."