Seoul:<Text>
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) aims to position South Korea as a "regional sustainment hub" by leveraging the country's outstanding military production capabilities to expedite the repair and maintenance of U.S. military assets, the USFK commander said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Gen. Xavier Brunson, who also serves as the commander of the Combined Forces Command, outlined these plans in a written document submitted to the U.S. Congress. The document highlights the strength of South Korea's defense industry, particularly in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sectors.
"USFK, supported by partners from Department of State, our military services and industry, is establishing a regional sustainment hub in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command," Brunson stated. The strategy focuses on preparing for competition, crisis, or conflict, taking into account lessons from recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in Ukra ine and Gaza.
The USFK commander emphasized the capabilities of South Korea's defense industrial base, noting its excellence in military production. He stressed that utilizing this industrial base for MRO could alleviate logistical challenges across different theaters. South Korea has been involved in depot level maintenance for U.S. military platforms, including fighter aircraft like the F-16, F-15, UH-60 Black Hawk, and CH-47 Chinook, since 1978. The country is now looking to expand its services to include U.S. maritime assets and other systems such as the Patriot missile defense batteries and T-55 aircraft engines.
The U.S. Department of Defense plans to implement the "regional sustainment framework" in 2024. This approach aims to make use of MRO capabilities from partner nations, rather than returning assets to the U.S. mainland for major repairs. According to a U.S. military source, the cost and time involved in sending major items back to the United States for repairs and then returning them to South Korea during conflict are impractical. The U.S. military intends to capitalize on South Korea's "world-class" industrial base to ensure that repairs are carried out swiftly, allowing assets to be returned to service promptly.
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