tecdec

The U.S. Navy has deployed special, radar-hunting warplanes to South Korea to train for a possible air war against North Korea. The five EA-18G Growlers have joined more than 200 American and South Korean planes and tens of thousands of military personnel for a five-day annual war game known as Vigilant Ace. The two-person crews of the twin-engine EA-18Gs are responsible for arguably the most dangerous mission in all of aerial warfare. Officially called "suppression of enemy air defenses," the mission involves clearing a path through sophisticated air defenses so that other planes can safely strike their targets. The EA-18Gs carry sensors for detecting radars' emissions, jammers for interfering with the sensors' functions and radar-homing missiles to destroy them. But to take out enemy air defenses, the Growler crews have to get close and that puts them directly in harm's way.  In North Korea, the crews would face a growing arsenal of radars ...

The U.S. has deployed B-1B bombers to the Korean Peninsula to take part in the joint Seoul-Washington air combat drills. South Korean military officials said on Wednesday that the bombers stationed in Guam arrived to conduct a bombing drill with South Korea's fighter jets. The U.S. usually deploys B-1B in pairs after North Korea's provocations in a show of force, or on routine training missions. The last deployment of B-1B bombers came in early November ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's regional trip. Seoul and Washington have been conducting a massive air combat drill known as Vigilant Ace. Over 200 warplanes are taking part, including two dozen stealth fighter jets. Six F-22s and six F-35s have been deployed to the Korean peninsula, marking the first time the highly-advanced jets have cruised the skies above South Korea at the same time. Other U.S. assets include two B-1B bombers and six Growler electronic warfare jets, as well as dozens of F-15s...