SEOUL - The U.S. Air Force has confirmed the participation of its fighter jets, based in South Korea, in a major aerial exercise in Singapore last month. The deployment included six F-16s from the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, approximately 60 kilometers south of Seoul, for the Commando Sling exercise with the Singaporean Air Force at Paya Lebar Air Base, from November 6 to 24.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in a notable first, the U.S. military utilized a commercial KDC-10 tanker aircraft for refueling the F-16s en route to Singapore. This marks a departure from previous instances, such as in 2018 when F-16s from Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan joined the exercise. The recent three-week exercise focused on enhancing fighter air-to-air capabilities and flight support operations. The Osan-based jets trained alongside Singaporean F-15, F-16, and A-330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft.
Commando Sling, initiated in 1990, is an exercise aimed at fostering aerial communication, increasing interoperability, and enhancing the alliance capability between the U.S. and Singaporean air forces.