Extended Exercise Drills

[Jay]

Training Exercise Expanded Exercise Drills
Timeline of Training Exercisei, 2 August 1998 - 10 August 1998
Security Classification: CONFIDENTIAL [Document is encrypted and protected]

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PREFACE FOR THE
Expanded Exercise Drills
EXERCISE
OF
THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
ARMED FORCES​

INTRODUCTION
1. Purpose. This training operation, is to simulate and assess the ROK Air Forces capabilities to provide in-air refueling capabilities to allied and ROK fighter jets, its ability to conduct long-range missions, and to prepare for necessary cross-continental support missions. The exercise will test the Air Force in its capacity to dispatch necessarily resources and deploy aircrafts in a timely manner. The scenarios will include presidential aircrafts, heavy transport, and fighter jets. The exercise will test the pilots ability for refueling another aircraft and improve pilots coordination with one another.

2. Background. The Turkish Government has requested for the upcoming ROK-Turkey summit the ROK Air Force provided refueling for their governmental transport aircraft and strategic airlift of necessary equipment and resources. The ROK Air Force in maintaining high professional standards and training will conduct necessary air exercises to ensure the success of the mission.

3. The Ministry of National Defense will use the exercise to assess the standing of the ROK armed forces and its ability to provide logistical support to allied nations and itself.

02 August 1998

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

A-1 Tactical and Strategic plans and policies

1. The exercise will be a principal means for maintaining trained and ready forces, exercise their contingency plans, and support their campaign plan engagement activities. It will train to both mission capability requirements described in government documents, as well as support theater and/or global/world-wide security cooperation requirements as directed in the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the civil command authority of the Blue House and National Defense Ministry.
2. The Training Environment (TE) shall replicated the Operational Environments (OE) necessary and sufficient to conduct training and joint force development. The TE is defined by the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the achievement of readiness levels and employment of capabilities that are based on decisions made by the commander.
3. Air Command must synchronize the integrated capabilities of air assistance, escort, and refueling capabilities. To ensure a efficient operating environment and supporting the command-control operational capabilities (CCOC) should minimize risks poised by hostile forces.
4. Air Commands capabilities to support joint multi-national capabilities and operations. The ROK AF Command capabilities for inter-alliance support will be enhanced with this training.

A-2 Refueling, Escort, and Strategic Airlift Goals, Assessment and Planning

1. Conduct coordinated multilingual support operations for friendly nations over airspace for military and government aircrafts. Responding to logistical needs of friendly nations pertaining to support operational needs,
   • To simulate and challenge mental capacity of airmen under very technical operational skills and processes through connecting fuel tubes with external fuselages, coordinating speed changes and linguistic operations.
   • Plan long distance operations to support aircrafts on a variety of missions and extend their airtime or mission range.
   • Strengthening aerial capabilities and improvement of skills and capabilities of pilots

A-3 (Skills to be acquired from this training)

• Refueling Capabilities
  • Being able to adjust speed and altitude for refueling
  • Being able to provide escort for refueling aircrafts and protect friendly aircrafts refueling
  • Being able to refuel friendly aircrafts and communicate with foreign pilots
• Long Distance Operation
  • Conducting aerial attack or support operations over long distance away from base of operations
  • Conducting aerial attack or support operations through refueling extension
  • Intercepting and escorting aircrafts over long distance
• Escort and Support Operations
  • Being able to locate and provide escort to aircrafts over hostile airspace
  • To be able respond without causing an escalation of geopolitical tensions and maintain support operation for aircraft
  • To be able to respond to acts of violence through appropriate use of force to repulse, neutralize, and disarm aggressors

A-4 (Post-training Mission)

• Study of ROK capacities to conduct long-range operations and provide assistance to aircrafts
  • Analyzing the current Air Force capabilities to provide assistance and resupply capabilities
    • Adjusting strategic vision of necessary branches accordingly

TRAINING EXERCISE C.

I. Force Composition of Training Exercise

ROK Armed Forces ROK Air Force 51st Air Mobility Squadron A flight x 1 Lockheed HC-130J Hercules Refueling Aircraft x 8 pilots & crew Presidential Air Transport Squadron A flight x 1 Airbus A380 Presidential Aircraft x 80 pilots & crew B flight x 1 Il-76M Strategic Transport x 10 pilots & crew 16th Fighter Squadron D flight x 5 F-15K Slam Eaglee x 10 pilots 4× AIM-120 AMRAAM 2 x AGM-84 Harpoon 2 x AGM-154 JSOW 20th Fighter Squadron A flight x 4 F-16CJ/DJ Block 50D/52D x 8 pilots 2× AIM-120 AMRAAM 2 x AGM-88 HARM 2 x AGM-84 Harpoon B flight x 4 KAI KF-16C/D Block 52 x 4 pilots 4× AIM-120 AMRAAM 2 x AGM-154 JSOW or 2 x AGM-84 Harpoon 38th Fighter Squadron A flight x 4 Mig-29SMT x 8 pilots 4 × R-73E 2 × Kh-31P ROK Army Logistical Corps 9th Airborne Division Support and Logistics Brigade 9th Airborne Division Brigade Support Regiment Forward Support Company x 10 K512 Refueling Vehicle x 80 crew

Operating bases

Operating Area	Location	Status
Busan Air Base	Busan, Republic of Korea	Active
Jeju Air Base	Jeju-do, Republic of Korea	Active
South China Sea	Within international waters/airspace (Grid OK)	NAVTEX & Airspace Clearance issued & active

Objective I	Depart from ROK Airbase	Initial Preparations	Completed
Objective II a)	ROK Aircrafts from the 51st Air Mobility Squadron and Presidential Air Transport Squadron will fly across the East China and South China Sea and simulate their capabilities to conduct long-range operations. They will conduct regular flight training with refueling practice and communication skills. ROK Aircrafts from 16th and 20th Fighter Squadrons will fly across the East China and South China Sea to provide assistance to VIP Aircraft Il-76M. ROK Aircrafts will intercept and escort Il-76M from its location to return back to Korea. Aircrafts will fly from PM < PL < OL < OK with aerial refueling to take place at OL & OK from 51st Air Mobility Squadron.	Air Force	Completed
Objective II b)	Aggressor Squadrons from the 38th Fighter Squadron will harass and intimidate VIP aircraft and ROK aircrafts within an appropriate manner and not behavior that endangers the crew and pilots. Aircrafts will continue their operations roleplaying as a hostile entity.	Air Force	Completed
Objective III	Aircrafts from 16th and 20th squadrons will complete their escort mission and escort the aircrafts back to ROK Air Space. The escort and VIP aircrafts will maintain their flight plans and return to ROK Air Space and simulate their ability for long-term in-air support and escort capabilities.	Air Force	Completed
Objective IV	Aircrafts from 16th, 20th, and 38th squadrons will return to their base of operations and resupply. Taking off again and conducting a long-range strike mission. Flying across PM < PN < PM < OM < PM and completing their mission with planned airstrike exercise against a mixture of ground targets, surface vessels, and anti-aircraft dummy systems.	Air Force	Completed
Objective V	Aircrafts will return to base of operations to conduct regular maintenance and debriefing	Air Force	Completed

The Republic of Korea has issued a NAVTEX and air warning for the airspace across the South China Sea where exercises will be conducted. Done to ensure aerial security and ensure that the exercise would be undisrupted and ensure no maritime vessels or aircrafts would be in their operating area. The NAVTEX will be issued on September 10

 

[Jay]

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The Lockheed C-130 Hercules would be fueled up and have their external tank storages capable for in-air refueling operations. On other tarmacs, the F-15K, KF-16, F-16, and MiG-29 would all be fueled and have their weapons loaded and readied for operations. Pilots were being briefed on the their specific tasks and operations with inter-squadron communication and codes being memorized. Pilots would review their plans and discuss amongst their squadrons what they would be doing. In Jeju-do, the ROK 16th Squadron would assist the visiting 38th Squadron and 51st & Presidential Transport Squadrons as they prepared for their operations.

All preflight checks would be made and maintenance crews giving the go. The Il-76M would fly with armored vehicles in its storage bay. Taking off and flying across its coordinates, PM < PL < OL < OK, the Il-76M would circle around the coordinates Il-76M while it waited for refueling from the C-130. The C-130 would arrive 15 minutes after the Il-76M had completed its objectives. The Il-76M would be given in-air refueling by the C-130 as the two aircrafts coordinated and maintained a high degree of communication as they began their process. After completion, the C-130 would return to its operating base to be refueled and prepare for the second part of its training. On the tarmac, the F-15K and MiG-29 would take off and prepare for their part of the operation of escorting and aggressing the transport. In Busan the KF-16 and F-16 would also do the same and take off.

 

[Jay]

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ROKAF Two F-15K Slam Eagles would depart from their base in Jeju-do and fly over the East China Sea where they would be received by an ROK HC-130 Aircraft for in-air refueling. The first F-15K would refuel while the second aircraft flew steadily above them ready to respond to any aircrafts coming. Once completed, the first aircraft would replace the other as they alternated roles. Once fully refueled, the F-15Ks would head to their escort location. The two MiG-29s would be re-fueled and proceed to their portion of the exercise. The pilots were experiencing their aircrafts and conducting a long-range operation. The improved variant gave the MiG-29 longer air time and extended distance of operations from its previous limits. The HC-130 would return to its base in Jeju-do for a refueling and ensuring its tanks were fully loaded before returning to provide long-distance refueling for the five aircrafts over the South China Sea. The F-15K would link up with the Il-76M flying around the South China Sea where they'd provide escort for the aircraft. Within sometime, the 2 MiG-29SMT would arrive to play the aggressor role.

 

[Jay]

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The ROKAF MiG-29 would intercept the Il-76M transport aircraft and begin harassing it as they flew close to the aircraft and showed their underbelly. The MiG-29s would continue to harass the Il-76M while the Il-76M attempted to reach the nearest aircrafts and maintain its course of action. The MiG-29s would keep pestering the aircraft to move the transport aircraft eastwards. Soon the two F-15K aircrafts would arrive, forcefully putting themselves between the transport aircraft and the pushing the MiGs backwards. The F-15K would steer the transport aircraft back as they escorted the aircraft and ensured it wouldn't be at risk as they flew back to Korean Airspace. The MiG-29s would continue to attempt and harass the aircrafts and follow them. Eventually the aircraft would return to Korean Airspace and the pilots would land their respective aircraft for refueling and maintenance as they discussed the third part of the training exercise.

 

[Jay]

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Ground crew at the Daegu Airbase would load the payload onto the F-15K. Making sure it was properly stowed and secured. The Five F-15K Slam Eagles would be armed with 2 AGM-154 JSOW and and a JDAM. The 16th Fighter Squadron, D flight would be fully equipped and ready for their mission. At Jeju Airbase, the 38th Fighter Squadron and it's A flight consisting of 4 MiG-29SMT jets would load their payload and take off for the exercise.

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After completing their flight checks, checking flaps and stacks, weapons and sticks, and would taxi on their runaway. The two squadrons would link up over the East Sea before completing their in-air exercise over PM < PN < PM < OM < PM to simulate a long-distance operation as they stayed airborne for a while. Refueling aircrafts would launch to provide re-fueling capabilities to the eight aircrafts before returning to their base.

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The F-15K of D flight would go first. With their weapons officers putting in the target location grid for the weapons gps system, they aimed for the target cones on the mountain. As they neared their target, they'd lower their altitude before launching their payload and turning to egress out of the area. From an overwatch rotation, the MiG-29s would wait their turn. As the F-15Ks dropped their three payloads and flew away fast.

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The MiG-29s of A flight would go second. Targeting the location grid with their weapons gps system, they aimed for the target cones on the mountain to hit seconds after their counterparts. As they neared their target, they'd lower their altitude before launching their payload and turning to egress out of the area.

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On the ground, CCT operators from the Air Force watched in the distance, confirming the explosion as one by one the bombs fell on their targets. They called in successful hits as they packed their gear and moved to their rendezvous.

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[Jay]

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Ground crew at the Jeju Airbase would load the payload onto the KF-16C/D. Making sure it was properly stowed and secured. The fOUR KF-16C/D from A flight would be armed with 2 aircrafts armed with 2 x AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile with two aircraft armed with 2 × AIM-120 AMRAAM. The 20th Fighter Squadron, A flight would be fully equipped and ready for their mission. At Jeju Airbase, the 20th Fighter Squadron would load their payload and take off for the exercise. After completing their flight checks, checking flaps and stacks, weapons and sticks, and would taxi on their runaway. The two squadrons would link up over the East Sea before completing their in-air exercise over PM < PN < PM < OM < PM to simulate a long-distance operation as they stayed airborne for a while. Refueling aircrafts would launch to provide re-fueling capabilities to the eight aircrafts before returning to their base.

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The two KF-16 armed with AGM-88 HARM missiles and their Weapons System would track their target. The APR-38 radar location and attack system would pick up an aggressor Buk air defense system. Being fed information through its APR-38 RLAS, the pilots would select A/G as they entered target of opportunity mode. The pilot selected station three, as his radar system identified multiple targets. It would pick up the aggressor Buk Air Defense system. Discriminating against friendly or unknown targets, the hostile and highest priority threat was aligned. The pilot would go to station 3, caging, and then fire. His wingman would do the same as they fired four AGM-88 Harm Missiles. They quickly veered away, turning left then down as they worked to evade any missiles. As they cleared the target zone, they'd pick up the pace and fly high and away. Their radar systems would confirm the destruction of the Buk as they flew away.

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The Buk Air Defense System would fire, destroying 2 of the AGM-88 HARM missiles. However, the remaining two would strike the system neutralizing it completely. The mission training was a successes and the destruction of the ADS was a positive sign in the increase of ROKAF Capabilities. The KF-16C/D aircrafts would egress back to base where they would be refueled and weapons stored. The KF-16 pilots would be debriefed on the success of the mission and improvements to be made. With the training mission complete, all the pilots would be briefed accordingly on their success and shortcomings and continue to hone their skills. In the flight training simulator, pilots would redo the drills and on their regular flight hours practice maneuvers and familiarize themselves with the system.