Members of the 51st Fig
hter Wing at Osan AB, South Korea, hosted airmen from the South Korean Air Force’s 15th Composite Wing April 13-15 as part of the “buddy wing” exercise and exchange program that provides the opportunity for the two nations’ air arms to practice combined air operations. The event kicked off with briefings and academics to share tactics. The airmen then took to the skies, with A-10s from Osan’s 25th Fighter Squadron executing a scenario with South Korean KA-1s. The language barrier is one challenge to the combined operations. “But, if we train a few times beforehand, then we can be very efficient with our missions,” said Capt. Eric Hart, a 25th FS pilot and project officer for the buddy wing program. (Osan report by 1st Lt. Malinda Singleton)
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.