South Korea and the US kicked off a combined large-scale air exercise earlier this week, the South's Air Force said Thursday, amid joint efforts to bolster readiness against North Korean threats. The 12-day Freedom Flag exercise got underway across various air bases in South Korea, mobilizing some 110 aircraft, including the South's F-35A stealth fighters and F-15Ks, US F-35Bs, F-16s, and MQ-9 drones, South Korea's News Agency (Yonhap) reported. The Royal Australian Air Force will also join the drills with a KC-30A multirole tanker transport aircraft. This week, the exercise will focus on aircraft deployment and tactics planning before next week's flight drills, which will include training on defensive counter air maneuvers and close air support, according to the Air Force. The Korean Air Force said the exercise will conduct a joint flight between fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles for the first time The Australian tanker will also hold aerial refueling drills with a South Korean F-35A fighter for the first time. Freedom Flag, which is taking place for the first time, replaces regular large-scale air exercises between South Korea and the US, namely the Korea Flying Training in the first half of the year and Vigilant Defense in the second half. Source: Qatar News Agency