한국에서 CAS 훈련을 실시한 B-1

[위종민]

텍사스 다이스 공군기지 소속 B-1 2대가 10월 1일 한국으로 날아와 필승사격장에서 한국군의 F-15K 2대와 함께 CAS 훈련을 실시했네요. 1대는 훈련 종료 후 국군의 날 기념 플라이오버를 실시했습니다. 

이번 CAS 훈련은 지난 6월 7년만에 한국 상공에서 GBU-38 JDAM을 투하했던 훈련에 이어 두 번째로 실시된 B-1의 CAS 훈련이네요. 

Two B-1 Bombers Fly Close Air Support Exercise in South Korea (airandspaceforces.com)

Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers joined up with Republic of Korea air force F-15s during a 10-hour mission from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, into Japanese airspace and over the Korean Peninsula, July 30, 2017. The B-1s first made contact with Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighter jets in Japanese airspace, then proceeded over the Korean Peninsula and were joined by South Korean F-15 fighter jets (Courtesy photo)

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Two B-1 Bombers Fly Close Air Support Exercise in South Korea

Oct. 7, 2024 | By Unshin Lee Harpley

Two B-1 Lancers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, led a simulated close air support exercise with South Korean fighters to maintain “defensive readiness” for both nations last week.

The long-range bombers flew to Korea and back for the one-day training event on Oct. 1 and have returned to Texas, a spokesperson for the Air Force Global Strike Command told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Lancers trained with two Republic of Korea F-15Ks, with support from U.S. Airmen from the 607th Air Support Operations Group at Pilsung Range, located about 160 miles east of Osan Air Base.

Following the exercise, one of the bombers joined a flyover with two ROK F-15Ks as part of the nation’s “Armed Forces Day” celebration over Seoul Air Base, located just outside the capital city of Seoul. The event reinforced the U.S.’s commitment to the two countries’ alliance, and “further enhanced the ability of ROK fighters to integrate with U.S. bombers,” Indo-Pacific Command stated in a release.

The Republic of Korea and U.S. conduct a combined aerial exercise in conjunction with the deployment of U.S. B-1B strategic bombers over the Republic of Korea, March 19, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Cameron Silver

The Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle, primarily built and operated by the ROK Air Force, is an advanced variant of the F-15E.

Close Air Support (CAS) provides essential airborne attacks against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces. Last week’s exercise marked the second time the long-range bombers have partnered with ROK fighters for CAS training this year. In June, a B-1 bomber conducted its first live munitions drop over the country in seven years, collaborating with two ROK F-15Ks to release 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). Earlier this year, the Air Force also engaged the Lancers in CAS training alongside Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters, aimed at strengthening partnerships and boosting operational readiness.

As the mission hinges on accuracy, traditionally, low-flying aircraft like the A-10s have been used for CAS training, utilizing the attack aircraft’s 30mm cannons. Although bombers are not primarily built for this role, all three USAF types—B-1, B-2, and B-52—can conduct CAS missions.

CAS has been a primary mission of the B-1 in support of combatant commanders for more than two decades. In previous demonstrations, B-1 Lancers showcased their ability to perform a low-level, high-speed pass as a non-lethal “show of force,” signaling readiness to engage the enemy if necessary. The training emphasizes this type of support to protect ground troops in real-world combat situations. The Lancers carry the largest conventional payload of weapons in the U.S. military, including general-purpose bombs, cluster munitions, and laser-guided missiles.

[백선호]

중폭격기의 CAS는 1944년 7월 25일 코브라 작전 시작 때 독일 Panzer Lehr 사단에 폭탄의 비를 뿌린 것이 유명하지요.

[위종민]

https://media.defense.gov/2017/Dec/04/2001851904/-1/-1/0/MP_0031_THEISEN_GROUND_AIDED_PRECISION_STRIKE.PDF

이 문서의 8, 9페이지를 보니 베트남전에서 B-52를 CAS에 써먹을 생각을 하게 된 건 우타파오에서 뜬 B-52가 폭탄을 미해병대 주둔지의 반경 3km 안쪽에 실수로 뿌려버린 것 때문이라고 하네요. 케산 전투에서는 괌과 태국에서 뜬 B-52들이 90분에 한 번씩, 2,500소티를 떴다고 합니다. 카프지 전투에서도 B-52가 공화국수비대 기갑부대의 대열에 폭탄을 뿌렸다고 하네요.

[백선호]

적군과 아군이 붙어 있는 상황에서 하는 CAS가 아니었지만 1965년 6월 18일 B-52F를 써서 베트콩 지역을 처음으로 폭격했습니다. 그런데 처음으로 이런 임무를 하다가 2대가 부딪혀 추락했지요.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0109arc/

Everything went wrong on that first mission. The B-52s reached the refueling area seven minutes early because of tailwinds from a typhoon. The first aircraft to arrive was flying a circular holding pattern and collided with another aircraft just getting there. Both fell into the sea. The other B-52s completed the mission but the intended target, a Viet Cong battalion, was gone before the bombing started.