Summary

  • US sends AC-130J Ghostrider gunship to South Korea for joint drills.
  • Training is crucial for maintaining combat readiness in US-Korean forces.
  • Recent events, like Putin-Kim meeting and missile tests, heighten tensions.

A United States Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider has arrived in South Korea to conduct drills with America’s South Korean allies in a show of “iron-clad commitment.” It arrived ahead on June 12 for the two-week-long drills. Recently, the US also sent B-1 Lancer bombers for drills in Korea for the first time in seven years. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been on a roller-coaster of high and not-so-high ever since the end of the 1953 Korean War. For most people living in Korea, this is just normal daily life.

US sends Ghostrider gunship to South Korea

The Ghostrider flew to the Osan Air Base in South Korea for two-week joint aerial drills aimed to ensure the combat readiness of US and Korean personnel. Training is a core part of a force maintaining is readiness. The AC-130J Ghostrider is assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing of the 4th Special Operations Squadron based in Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Lockheed AC-130J Ghostrider flying

Photo: USAF

The training between South Korean and American forces in Korea is routine. According to Yonhap News Agency, the exercises are coincidental with other happenings on the peninsula, like Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The bizarre meeting ended with one of those countries’ strongest pacts since the end of the Cold War era.

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Although the KF-21 only made its maiden flight two years ago, Korea has already issued the contract for the first 20 fighter jets.

The AC-130J Ghostrider

The AC-130J Ghostrider is a powerful symbol of American airpower. It is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules and is able to bring a massive amount of firepower to bear on ground targets. It can supply a large amount of firepower in close air support missions. It was developed for the Vietnam War to protect outposts from attacking enemies hiding in darkness and jungles and, therefore, difficult to target with traditional aircraft.

A Lockheed AC-130 on an airfield apron.

Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock.com

Close air support missions include troops in contact, convoy escort, and point air defense. Impressive as it is, it is unclear if it would be survivable on a high-threat battlefield involving a peer adversary. Regardless of its role in future wars, it has been one of the most requested aircraft by ground forces in the past.

North Korea possibly tested hypersonic missile

Separately, it is reported that North Korea launched another ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on Wednesday (called East Sea by Korea). However, the missile exploded mid-way, according to the South Korean military.

The missile was fired from near (or in) the North Korean capital of Pyongyang at around 05:30 and failed after flying around 155 miles. The Korea Times reported the military is considering the possibility that the missile may have been a test for a hypersonic missile.

AC-130U flying over Hurlburt Field

Photo: United States Air Force

The failed missile test comes soon after a failed North Korean spy satellite launch that also exploded soon after launch. Ahead of the spy satellite launch, South Korea deployed new stealthy F-35s in exercises near the DMZ with North Korea.

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