On the 27th, Navy and Marine Corps Launch Sea and Air Assaults off Pohang
They Practice Amphibious Warfare Using Manned and Unmanned Combined Combat Systems
Navy and Marines Strengthen Joint Force Operations as One Team
They Practice Amphibious Warfare Using Manned and Unmanned Combined Combat Systems
Navy and Marines Strengthen Joint Force Operations as One Team
The Navy and Marine Corps said April 27 they are conducting their 2026 first‑half joint amphibious landing exercise around Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province from April 23–30. On the morning of April 27, forces executed the exercise’s centerpiece—the decisive action—at Dokseok‑ri Beach to hone their landing operation skills. According to the military and the Defense Ministry, the brigade‑level exercise involves about 3,200 personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Roughly 20 ships, including the large transport Marado (LPH), Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAV), MUH‑1 landing maneuver helicopters, P‑8A maritime patrol aircraft, KF‑16 fighters, AH‑64E attack helicopters, drones from the Drone Operations Command and other manned and unmanned systems took part.
The exercise moved through planning, loading landing forces and equipment, procedural rehearsals, movement to the objective and the final sea‑and‑air assault by landing troops. It demanded high levels of teamwork and joint interoperability. To maximize training effects, naval and Marine units integrated diverse joint forces and carried out maritime and aerial assaults aligned with their operational concept. The Marine Corps said training tasks were applied to plausible scenarios to prepare for a range of future threats.
They combined manned and unmanned systems, pushed reconnaissance assets to scout landing beaches and improve battlefield awareness, and reviewed force‑protection procedures against hostile drones. Logistics drones transported ammunition, combat rations and medical supplies to units operating deep in enemy territory, helping establish concepts for sustained offensive support.
During the movement‑to‑target phase, participating forces trained realistically for anti‑submarine warfare and air defense against multiple threats, and practiced mine‑countermeasure operations to detect and clear enemy‑laid mines. A team from the U.S. 7th Fleet’s Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures unit (ExMCM) joined the mine‑clearing drills to enhance allied minewarfare capabilities. For the first time during a landing reconnaissance unit operation—where special forces covertly infiltrate the shore to scout and clear obstacles—operators used first‑person‑view (FPV) drones to gather real‑time intelligence and validate drone‑operating capabilities.
After clearing mines and obstacles on the landing beaches, the navy and marines executed the decisive action at Dokseok‑ri Beach on the morning of April 27. The decisive action is the capstone of a landing operation: marine assault forces secure a coastal strongpoint with naval gunfire and air support, then prepare to transition to ground combat.
Notably, a New Zealand Army platoon was attached to a landing battalion for the first time in this exercise. New Zealand troops spent roughly two weeks training on urban operations, live‑fire drills and KAAV embarkation and debarkation before the decisive action, building tactical cohesion and strengthening ties with Korean marines.
Colonel Hwang Sang‑geun, commander of the Amphibious Maneuver Unit, said, “This exercise strengthened the Navy and Marines’ ability to operate jointly as one team and validated the combat readiness of manned‑unmanned combined forces using advanced technologies. Backed by overwhelming force, the Navy and Marines will flawlessly carry out the missions entrusted to them by the nation and its people.” Colonel Kim Hyun‑gil, commander of the landing forces, said, “The joint amphibious exercise provided a key opportunity to reinforce teamwork between the Navy and Marines and the interoperability of supporting units. Through this training, we will earn the public’s trust as a national strategic maneuver force and faithfully complete any mission, anytime, anywhere.”
Lieutenant Aaron Michael Chemlery of the New Zealand Defence Force said, “This rigorous, realistic training with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps enhanced both countries’ interoperability and advanced the New Zealand Army’s capabilities. I believe our participation demonstrates the strong cooperation between our nations.”
After completing the decisive action, the Navy and Marines will continue a series of drills through April 30 to sharpen unit‑level mission performance. Exercises will include emergency resupply and cargo airdrops, operation of an airborne tactical command post, and mass‑casualty care training, all linked to the joint amphibious exercise. Leaders said they will refine landing operation plans and joint‑force procedures based on the results and apply those improvements in future training.
