On May 16, a pair of U.S. F-22s conducted a rare exercise with South Korean F-35As over the peninsula’s inland airspace. The training involved the four stealth fighters practicing close-range air combat maneuvers, alternating between offensive and defensive roles in simulated combat scenarios, according to a release from the Republic of Korea Air Force.
Earlier this week, four Raptors arrived at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. These F-22s, assigned to the 19th and 199th Expeditionary Fighter Squadrons from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, have been operating out of Kadena Air Base in Japan since mid-April.
The release from the 8th Fighter Wing mentioned that the F-22s would assist in "testing Agile Combat Employment (ACE) capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region." Air Force leaders have emphasized ACE-characterized by small teams of Airmen and aircraft operating from remote or austere bases and quickly relocating-as a crucial aspect of the service's shift towards great power competition, particularly with China.
To this end, the Air Force has been intensifying ACE training for several months, and the F-22 is included in these efforts. While the presence of Raptors in or near South Korea is unusual, it is not unprecedented. In February, B-1 Lancers and F-22 Raptors flew alongside Korean F-35s over the Yellow Sea. In December 2022, F-22s, along with Korean F-35 and F-15K fighter jets, escorted a B-52 bomber near the peninsula's waters. More recently, Raptors were featured in Seoul’s defense exhibition in October. However, the air dominance fighter rarely participates in exercises over the Korean Peninsula.