At the Defense Command Headquarters, Ahn said the FS exercise is essential not only for the combined defense posture that protects the Republic of Korea but also for keeping forces sharp so they can make clear decisions and carry out operations in complex, realistic scenarios. He urged forces to prepare diligently to reclaim operational control, aiming to complete verification of the future Combined Forces Command’s Full Operational Capability (FOC) by 2026.
He received briefings on the combined defense posture and the exercise from the commander of the Air Operations Command and the commander of the U.S. Seventh Air Force.
Ahn described the U.S.–ROK alliance as the bedrock of South Korean security, forged in shared sacrifice, and stressed that close communication and trust between the two defense establishments are more crucial than ever amid a rapidly changing security environment.
Inspecting 10 outdoor maneuvers that day, including combined flight training, he called the Combined Air Component Command the sharp edge of the ROK–U.S. defense posture — the first and most decisive responder in a crisis. He added that training is a lifeline for service members and that realistic drills are essential for troops to develop and retain the skills and mindset required to prevail.
He said maintaining and strengthening the ROK–U.S. combined defense system after the transfer of wartime operational control is a shared priority, and he emphasized that service members on both sides are the linchpins who make the alliance and combined defense posture real.
Afterward, Ahn visited the Air Operations Command’s Space Operations Center to review ongoing space operations.
He warned that threats in space and cyberspace are increasingly unpredictable and complex. He urged sustained ROK–U.S. cooperation to advance operational capabilities — including space-based surveillance and reconnaissance — that will shape future battlefields.
