The 1st Armored Brigade under South Korea’s 5th Army Corps and the 2nd Infantry Division of the United States Forces Korea implemented joint firepower drill with high-tech weapons on Sept. 30 at a Seungjin training field.
The drill, which took place a day before the 63rd Armed Forces Day, was organized to maximize joint operational capabilities between Seoul and Washington in contingencies as well as strengthen interoperability of the Army and the Air Force.
South Korea’s K-1 tanks, K-9 and K-55 self-propelled artilleries and 130-millimeter multiple rocker launchers were also mobilized in the joint training.
Some 120 firearms in 15 different types from South Korea and U.S. forces were mobilized in the training. About 1,300 troops from both sides also carried out the exercise. South Korea’s main fighter F-15Ks and AH-1S “Cobra” combat helicopters showed off their firepower during the exercise. On the U.S. side, M1A2 tanks, M2A1 Bradley armored vehicles, M109A6 self-propelled artilleries and AH-64 “Apache” combat helicopters joined the drill.
In the drill, South Korea’s 15th Tank Battalion organized a joint Task Force team with the U.S.’s a mechanical infantry platoon and a artillery unit. A South Korean commander took charge of a command of the Task Force.
The joint exercise begin with all arms demonstrating firing capabilities. Then both forces took advantage of advanced network system in destroying simulated enemy targets with joint ground and air forces.
After the firing exercise, troops of both sides observed major weapons and military devices at an exhibition hall. Also some troops experienced boarding armored arms