Latest news with #SuperSquadronTest
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon 'Super Squadron' in South Korea to target North Korea and China; here's what it means
Days after North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong asked the United States of America to accept the reality that her country is a nuclear weapons state, the American Air Force has started boosting its fighter aircraft strength in South Korea's north. The US Air Force is creating a "Super Squadron" by bringing in more than 30 F-16 Fighting Falcon first F-16 Fighting Falcons, out of the 31 combat jets likely to be reassigned, were on July 28 moved from South Korean Kunsan Air Base to the north and stationed at Osan AB, which is situated just 48 miles south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This redeployment of F-16s is a step towards the US Air Force's Super Squadron Test. "These F-16s are the first of many being temporarily reassigned to Osan AB for Phase II of the test, the temporary transfer supporting Seventh Air Force's efforts to maximize capabilities and increase combat effectiveness on the Korean Peninsula," the US Air Force stated in a press Read: Aliens coming, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS may be their ship and we have no defense; this Harvard astrophysicist is almost 100% sure'Osan is receiving additional F-16s as part of the Air Force's Super Squadron Test Part II initiative, which is a force-optimization test designed to see if a larger, consolidated squadron can generate more combat power and operate more efficiently,' said US Air Force Captain Bryce Hughes, 51st Maintenance Group Officer and Sortie Generation Flight commander, as per the same press with the approximately 31 F-16s, the US Air Force will also move 1,000 airmen from Kunsan AB to Osan AB for the start of Phase II. The reassignment of the airmen will start October 2025. US Air Force personnel stationed at the Osan AB are training with the 36th Fighter Generation Squadron (FGS) to gain experience in maintaining the F-16s and help maximize combat airpower generation. As part of the Super Squadron Test, the US Air Force in October 2024 moved nine F-16s and 150 airmen to the 36th Fighter Squadron and FGS at Osan AB. "Phase II of the test is expected to continue through October 2026, capitalizing on data from the first phase and assessing focus areas like maintenance, manpower and logistics requirements at a larger scale,: the US Air Force stated.'We're working hand-in-hand with the Wolfpack to ensure a smooth transition of both personnel and equipment in preparation for Phase II. The 51st Fighter Wing is leading the charge on the Super Squadron Test. I'm proud of what the Mustangs have accomplished already, and I look forward to testing the limits of what we can do over the next year," said Colonel Ryan Ley, 51st Fighter Wing order to enhance its combat effectiveness in the Korean Peninsula, the US Air Force has taken several steps in the last few years. The force began replacing its older fighters with newer and more potent variants, including removal of F-15C/Ds from Kadena Air Base in Japan. The place of the phased out jets will be taken up by the new F-15EXs. To maintain its operational readiness, the force has rotated in F-15Es and F-22s in the interim US has been facing an increasingly assertive China in East Asia. The Chinese defense forces have in the last couple of decades modernized and expanded rapidly. It is now actively challenging the US in many regions of the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and near Read: China's robot army's new addition - missile-firing and flying turtle; signs of preparation for World War III?A couple of months back in June 2025, two Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carriers carried out a joint military exercise in the Pacific, near the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. China's aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong launched Shenyang J-15 fighters during day and night, as well as carried out multiple combat maneuver. China's guided-missile destroyer Wuxi and supply ship Hulunhu were also part of the military third and most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, which is undergoing sea trials, recently demonstrated its ability to launch fighters using an electromagnetic catapult, breaking one more ceiling and moving closer to the US in terms of naval technology. A six-and-a-half minute long video of the Fujian sea trial was shown on Chinese state media CCTV where several J-15T fighters were is armed with multiple nuclear tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, fifth generation stealth fighters like the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon and Shenyang J-35 (which has two variants - one for the air force and other for the navy) and the worls's largest naval force. Its recent advancement in space and satellite technology has given the US one more reason to worry which is now actively looking at its adversaries possessing offensive capability from beyond the earth. Kim Yo Jong, who usually issues statements on behalf of her brother Kim Jong Un, on July 29 stated that while the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump's relationship is 'not bad', her country possesses nuclear weapons and will not give them up. Demanding the US to accept the reality of nuclear North Korea, Kim Yo Jong called the situation in 2018 and '19 during Trump's first term as the US President vastly different for that in Read: A UN report on UN reports' declining readership: Surprising truth behind the world's most ignored document 'The year 2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019. The recognition of the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state and the hard fact that its capabilities and geopolitical environment have radically changed should be a prerequisite for predicting and thinking everything in the future,' she and facing crippling sanctions from the US-led western powers and many other countries, North Korea has been increasingly dependent on China and Russia for its economic and military Jong Un has sent military supplies including troops and artillery shells to Russia to fight the Ukraine war. The move to power the Russian war machinery has come under severe criticism from the US and its allies. Russia and North Korea recently started the first direct passenger flight between Pyongyang and Moscow in decades.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon 'Super Squadron' in South Korea to target North Korea and China; here's what it means
Days after North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong asked the United States of America to accept the reality that her country is a nuclear weapons state, the American Air Force has started boosting its fighter aircraft strength in South Korea's north. The US Air Force is creating a "Super Squadron" by bringing in more than 30 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. The first F-16 Fighting Falcons, out of the 31 combat jets likely to be reassigned, were on July 28 moved from South Korean Kunsan Air Base to the north and stationed at Osan AB, which is situated just 48 miles south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This redeployment of F-16s is a step towards the US Air Force's Super Squadron Test. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Data Science CXO Leadership Management Healthcare Others MBA Operations Management MCA Public Policy Data Science Project Management Degree Design Thinking Product Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details "These F-16s are the first of many being temporarily reassigned to Osan AB for Phase II of the test, the temporary transfer supporting Seventh Air Force's efforts to maximize capabilities and increase combat effectiveness on the Korean Peninsula," the US Air Force stated in a press release. Also Read: Aliens coming, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS may be their ship and we have no defense; this Harvard astrophysicist is almost 100% sure by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now 'Osan is receiving additional F-16s as part of the Air Force's Super Squadron Test Part II initiative, which is a force-optimization test designed to see if a larger, consolidated squadron can generate more combat power and operate more efficiently,' said US Air Force Captain Bryce Hughes, 51st Maintenance Group Officer and Sortie Generation Flight commander, as per the same press release. Along with the approximately 31 F-16s, the US Air Force will also move 1,000 airmen from Kunsan AB to Osan AB for the start of Phase II. The reassignment of the airmen will start October 2025. US Air Force personnel stationed at the Osan AB are training with the 36th Fighter Generation Squadron (FGS) to gain experience in maintaining the F-16s and help maximize combat airpower generation. Live Events As part of the Super Squadron Test, the US Air Force in October 2024 moved nine F-16s and 150 airmen to the 36th Fighter Squadron and FGS at Osan AB. "Phase II of the test is expected to continue through October 2026, capitalizing on data from the first phase and assessing focus areas like maintenance, manpower and logistics requirements at a larger scale,: the US Air Force stated. 'We're working hand-in-hand with the Wolfpack to ensure a smooth transition of both personnel and equipment in preparation for Phase II. The 51st Fighter Wing is leading the charge on the Super Squadron Test. I'm proud of what the Mustangs have accomplished already, and I look forward to testing the limits of what we can do over the next year," said Colonel Ryan Ley, 51st Fighter Wing commander. In order to enhance its combat effectiveness in the Korean Peninsula, the US Air Force has taken several steps in the last few years. The force began replacing its older fighters with newer and more potent variants, including removal of F-15C/Ds from Kadena Air Base in Japan. The place of the phased out jets will be taken up by the new F-15EXs. To maintain its operational readiness, the force has rotated in F-15Es and F-22s in the interim period. China's growing power and security situation in East Asia The US has been facing an increasingly assertive China in East Asia. The Chinese defense forces have in the last couple of decades modernized and expanded rapidly. It is now actively challenging the US in many regions of the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and near Taiwan. Also Read: China's robot army's new addition - missile-firing and flying turtle; signs of preparation for World War III? A couple of months back in June 2025, two Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carriers carried out a joint military exercise in the Pacific, near the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. China's aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong launched Shenyang J-15 fighters during day and night, as well as carried out multiple combat maneuver. China's guided-missile destroyer Wuxi and supply ship Hulunhu were also part of the military drill. China's third and most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, which is undergoing sea trials, recently demonstrated its ability to launch fighters using an electromagnetic catapult, breaking one more ceiling and moving closer to the US in terms of naval technology. A six-and-a-half minute long video of the Fujian sea trial was shown on Chinese state media CCTV where several J-15T fighters were shown. China is armed with multiple nuclear tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, fifth generation stealth fighters like the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon and Shenyang J-35 (which has two variants - one for the air force and other for the navy) and the worls's largest naval force. Its recent advancement in space and satellite technology has given the US one more reason to worry which is now actively looking at its adversaries possessing offensive capability from beyond the earth. North Korean threat Kim Yo Jong, who usually issues statements on behalf of her brother Kim Jong Un, on July 29 stated that while the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump's relationship is 'not bad', her country possesses nuclear weapons and will not give them up. Demanding the US to accept the reality of nuclear North Korea , Kim Yo Jong called the situation in 2018 and '19 during Trump's first term as the US President vastly different for that in 2025. Also Read: A UN report on UN reports' declining readership: Surprising truth behind the world's most ignored document 'The year 2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019. The recognition of the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state and the hard fact that its capabilities and geopolitical environment have radically changed should be a prerequisite for predicting and thinking everything in the future,' she said. Isolated and facing crippling sanctions from the US-led western powers and many other countries, North Korea has been increasingly dependent on China and Russia for its economic and military needs. Kim Jong Un has sent military supplies including troops and artillery shells to Russia to fight the Ukraine war. The move to power the Russian war machinery has come under severe criticism from the US and its allies. Russia and North Korea recently started the first direct passenger flight between Pyongyang and Moscow in decades.
