Navy Conducts Live Fleet Exercises to Boost Combat Readiness
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South Korea's Navy held four-day live fleet exercises off its western and southern coasts, involving around 20 ships and aircraft, to enhance combat readiness against various maritime threats and regional scenarios.
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Why It Matters
The South Korean Navy conducted live fleet exercises off its western and southern coasts earlier this week to enhance combat readiness. The drills involved surface ships, naval aircraft, and helicopters.
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- The Navy said Friday it conducted live fleet exercises in waters off the western and southern coasts earlier this week as part of efforts to boost combat readiness.
The four-day drills that began Tuesday, involving around 20 surface ships and naval aircraft, were aimed at honing responses to various maritime contingencies and regional operational environments to ensure each fleet maintains a firm combat readiness posture, the Navy said in a release.
The Second Fleet, in charge of defending the Yellow Sea, deployed the 7,600-ton Aegis-equipped ROKS Yulgok Yi I destroyer, the flagship 3,200-ton Eulji Mundeok warship, and the P-3C and P-8A patrol aircraft, as well as the AW-159 and Lynx naval combat helicopters.
Also joining the drills were the KF-16 fighter of the Air Force and the AH-64E Apache attack chopper of the U.S. Forces Korea.
The Third Fleet based on the southern coast mobilized the 4,400-ton Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer and the 2,500-ton Jeonbuk frigate, along with patrol aircraft and naval helicopters.
The drills in the Yellow Sea focused on countering special operations of an infiltrating enemy at sea and sharpening maneuvers for electromagnetic, anti-submarine, anti-drone and anti-surface warfare.
The exercise off the southern coast was also staged to execute similar drills and check the defense posture of key ports in the area, the Navy said.
