Korea, U.S. join forces for Exercise Max Thunder

Published: Fri Jun 20th, 2008
Source: AFPN

KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFPN) -- Airmen and aircraft from units across the Pacific Air Forces descended June 16 to participate in Exercise Max Thunder here.

Hosted by Kunsan Air Base officials, Max Thunder is a bi-lateral training exercise intended to increase interoperability between Korean and U.S. forces. The exercise will conclude June 20.

"We live here together ... we will go together. It's important that we exercise together," said Col. J. Bryan Bearden, the 8th Fighter Wing commander. "There's so much that we have to learn by working together, that's what makes this week so very important."

Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15E Strike Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-52 Stratofortresses, E-3 Sentries and KC-135 Stratotankers, flew multiple-training missions alongside Korean F-15Ks, KF-16s and (R)F-4s, designed to replicate the scenarios and planning cycles of the upcoming Red Flag exercise the Korean air force members will be participating in at Nellis Air Force Base in Nev.

"The Red Flag exercise itself will be a tremendous training opportunity for the (Korean air force,)" said Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, the U.S. Pacific Command commander, during his visit to Kunsan AB June 17.

While Korean and American Airmen regularly work together at Kunsan AB, the Max Thunder exercise marked the first time the two air forces had flown together in such large numbers, said Capt. Chris Hubbard, who is with the 8th Operations Group.

"We get to plan together, brief together, fly together and de-brief together. And we learn from each other throughout all those opportunities," said the captain, who also acted as the Max Thunder project officer.

The sheer number of aircraft and participants made safety a primary concern during the exercise, Captain Hubbard said.

An F-15E Strike Eagle takes off during Exercise Max Thunder.
Source: US Air Force

"It's a small airspace and trying to get that many aircraft in there at the same time is always going to be difficult," he said. "We use the same tactics that we'll do on our daily training missions, but the administration -- getting to the airspace, getting back from the airspace, and making sure everybody's safe when we're out there with that many aircraft -- is the biggest challenge."

In addition to the aircraft normally stationed here, Kunsan AB also hosted F-15Es from Mountain Home AFB's 389th Fighter Squadron, along with approximately 90 Airmen.

Maj. Matt Baugh from Mountain Home AFB's 389th Fighter Squadron highlighted the challenges involved with so many aircraft in the air.

"One of the challenges of an exercise of this size is integrating with so many different airframes," he said. "In normal training missions we fly with four jets together, sometimes eight. (During Max Thunder) we're talking upwards of 50 or 60 jets and aircrew all working together, which is challenging."

However, the common goal of all the Airmen involved, U.S. and Korean, was one of teamwork - -from mission planning, briefing, flying and de-briefing, the two air forces worked as partners.

"No matter what our future holds, what we can guarantee today is that through this exercise, we'll be able to operate together better," Colonel Bearden said.

F-16's at Max Thunder exercise.
Source: US Air Force

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Korea, U.S. join forces for Exercise Max Thunder

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