F-22s executed a display of force over South Korea on Wednesday in response to recent North Korean provocations, Pacific Air Forces announced. “The F-22 Raptor is the most capable air superiority fighter in the world, and it represents one of many capabilities available for the defense of this great nation,” 7th Air Force Commander and US Forces Korea Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy said in a release. “The US? maintains an ironclad commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea,” he added. The four F-22s from JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, redeployed to Osan AB, South Korea, from a regular training rotation to Japan. The jets were joined in formation by Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagles and resident F-16s. “The combined nature of this flyover highlighted the high level of integration and interoperability between our two Air Forces, developed through decades of combined training,” noted Osan’s 36th Fighter Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Nicholas Evans. A B-52 conducted a similar flyby following North Korea’s detonation of a nuclear device in January, and the formation repeated the gesture after the country’s ballistic missile test earlier the month.
An Air Force F-16 pilot designed a collapsible ladder that weighs just six pounds and folds into the unused cockpit map case.