Air Force aircraft are leaving Osan AB, South Korea, for the neighboring Republic of Korea Air Force base at Suwon, while Osan’s runway undergoes critical repairs, officials announced. F-16s assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron, along with A-10s from the 25th FS, and U-2s normally detached to Osan, will fly from Suwon for about six weeks, according to a release. “Suwon Air Base and the city of Suwon have a long history of generosity toward the US Air Force,” said Osan’s 51st Fighter Wing Commander Col. Andrew Hansen. “We are extremely grateful for their ongoing generosity and friendship. We’re proud to continue defending the skies over the Republic of Korea,” he added. Osan’s runway will remain closed from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15, according to a notice published this week.
Three B-1B Lancers from the 7th Bomb Wing flew over the Indo-Pacific alongside F-16s from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force recently, as part of a joint large force exercise. The mission began and ended in the continental U.S., as the bombers flew 31 hours and landed Jan. 11.