South Korea and France held their first joint air drills in three years this week to strengthen their ability to operate together, Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday.
The three-day exercise began on Tuesday at an air base in Cheongju, about 110 kilometres (68 miles) south of Seoul, the agency reported, citing the South Korean Air Force.
South Korea deployed F-35A stealth fighters and KC-330 Cygnus aerial refueling tankers. France sent two Rafale fighter jets and an A330 aerial refueling tanker.
The French deployment was part of the Pegase mission, which aims to test France’s ability to operate with partner forces and strengthen deterrence across nine countries, including Canada, the US and Japan.
During Wednesday’s drills, the two air forces practiced refueling each other’s aircraft and conducted tactical flights, dividing aircraft into allied and opposing forces. Pilots also exchanged views on flight tactics and aircraft operations.
South Korean and French aircraft separately performed over a memorial cemetery in the southeastern city of Busan to commemorate UN troops killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.
French Space Command chief Maj. Gen. Vincent Chusseau told Yonhap the deployment was a "stepping stone" toward greater operational interoperability.
He said the Pegase mission also sought to examine France’s role as a partner to South Korea in addressing regional challenges.
