Air Power 2017

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS AIR POWER 2017 55

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

R AFAT

Exercise EASTERN HAWK

30 September-2 December

Typhoon

Exercise BERSAMA LIMA (Malaysia)

4 -21 Oc tober

Exercise GUARDIAN NORTH (Japan)

22 October-5 November

INVINCIBLE SHIELD (Republic of Korea)

5-14 November

was aimed at enhancing interoperability to deepen
the two countries’ partnership in security and defence.
“We have not done any bilateral exercises
in Japan with other nations except with the US,”
remarked Chief of the JASDF General Yoshiyuki
Sugiyama, “and ultimately we are so grateful for this
opportunity to host one in Japan with the Royal Air
Force, which is one of the most committed services
to improving the global security environment.”

INVINCIBLE SHIELD
The Typhoons – together with C-17 Globemaster
transport aircraft, Voyager tanker aircraft and around
200 RAF personnel – then deployed to the ROK’s
Osan Air Base for the Invincible Shield drill: the first-
ever combined air drill with the US and the UK to be
hosted by the ROK Air Force. It was also the first time
that domestic air combat manoeuvres were hosted
by the ROK with a foreign nation other than the US.
The aims were to enhance interoperability
among the air forces of the ROK, the US and the
UK, and increase ROK-UK defence and security
cooperation. The UK’s participation also served
to emphasise its continued commitment to the
maintenance of the international rules-based
system as one of the five permanent members
of the United Nations Security Council.
The UK and the ROK continue to develop
opportunities for cultural and economic exchanges,
and Invincible Shield marked a milestone in their
journey towards greater defence cooperation
and a stronger partnership in the future.

EASTERN VENTURE – ROUTE MAP

Wing Commander Roger Elliott, then Officer

Commanding of 2 Squadron, said of Exercise Eastern

Venture, “By any measure, this was an astonishing

deployment that involved all elements of the

Service. Given the distance, the short duration and

the number of nations involved, this was the most

ambitious deployment by the Typhoon Force.”

Exercise Eastern Venture saw the first-ever combined
air drill between the Royal Air Force and the Republic
of Korea Air Force (PHOTO: © CROWN COPYRIGHT)

Wuhan JAPAN

Shanghai

HaikouHong Kong

Da Nang

Kuala Lumpur

Muscat

Karachi

Abu Dhabi

Guangzhou

Zhuhai

Hyderabad

Hindon

Dhaka

Beijing

VIETNAM

MALAYSIA

CHINA

INDIA

BANGLADESH

PAKISTAN

SINGAPORE

OMAN

BAHRAIN

KUWAIT

UNITEDARAB

EMIRATES

REPUBLICOF KOREA