Air Force to hold combat exercise

The Air Force will today start a two-week combat drill aimed at improving pilots` strategic and combat capabilities, officials said yesterday.

The "Soaring Eagle" exercise is the Air Force`s first comprehensive aerial drill of its type, and will involve eight units, and over 30 airplanes. It is to be held at the 29 Tactical Fighter Weapons Group at Cheongju air base.

"Respective units have been conducting individual exercises, but this is the first time we have planned such a comprehensive drill involving the entire Air Force," an Air Force official said.

Four of the latest F-15K jets, along with almost all types of aircraft the Air Force deploys, including the F-5 and F-4 planes, will be taking part.

The exercise consists of two-parts - ground drills and actual flight combat drills - with combat exercises involving air-to-air and air-to-surface operations.

The Air Force also said it would deploy the non drop bomb scoring system so that they can conduct extensive bombing exercises without using actual bombs.

"We hope to develop the Soaring Eagle to resemble the extensive Red Flag exercise conducted by the U.S. Air Force`s advanced Red Flag exercise," said Col. Sim Cheong-yong, a wing commander in charge of the drill.