Three US Pacific Air Forces F-16 squadrons are participating in the fourth annual Max Thunder exercise, being held at Kwangju AB, South Korea. During the week-long exercise that began 15 October 2010, US Air Force F-16 pilots from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB and the 51st FW at Osan AB are flying with Republic of Korea Air Force KF-16, F-15K, and F-4E aircrews. The 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson AB, Alaska, is providing adversary air. Max Thunder is a bilateral training exercise designed to increase interoperability between ROK and US military forces. The exercise replicates the scenarios and planning cycles of a Red Flag exercise and provides large-force employment training for both US and Korean military personnel.
