US forces drill air defence against drone threats in Korea

US Air Force and Army units have carried out joint air defence training at Osan Air Base during Exercise Freedom Shield 26, focusing on countering drone threats, the US Air Force said.

The exercise brought together the 51st Security Forces Squadron and the US Army’s 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, which worked to detect, track and respond to a simulated hostile unmanned aerial system approaching the base.

During the training, forces used the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger system, a mobile air defence platform equipped with Stinger missiles, to identify and engage low-altitude threats such as drones and aircraft.

“This training integrated Army air defense capabilities into the base defense plan,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ty Waits, an Avenger platoon leader. “By working alongside Air Force security forces, we ensure we can rapidly respond to aerial threats and protect the installation.”

The activity forms part of a wider effort to strengthen layered base defence, combining ground-based air defence systems with security forces on the ground to address the growing threat posed by small unmanned systems. Alongside the Avenger system, troops also trained on the use of man-portable air defence systems, allowing Stinger missile pods to be deployed as mobile teams if vehicle-based systems become unavailable.

“Our goal is to defend the installation against smaller aerial threats so higher-level systems can focus on larger threats,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christian Natal, adding that the increasing use of drones in modern conflicts has made such training essential. The exercise also included the use of the Integrated Fires Protection Capability Increment 2 system, designed to counter cruise missiles and larger unmanned aerial systems, highlighting a broader push to integrate multiple layers of air defence.