USFK Conducts 1st Live-Fire Drill in 3 Years

The U.S. Forces Korea has conducted its first live-fire drill with AH-64E Apace attack helicopters here in three years. The 2nd U.S. Infantry Division on Monday tweeted videos and images of the choppers firing AGM-114 hellfire missiles, Hydra-70 rockets and 30 mm machine gun rounds into the air.

The drill took place at the Rodriguez Range in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.

In May, the U.S. infantry division launched a new air cavalry squadron consisting of AH-64E Apaches to boost the USFK's combat capability.

The drill was part of efforts to beef up joint training after it was severely curtailed by the previous U.S. and Korean administrations. 

It also aimed to gauge if the level of noise it generates is acceptable within new restrictions that went into effect this year. Local residents have long complained of damage from the deafening racket.

Meanwhile, the Korean Army also conducted a large-scale air drill in Icheon and Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province on Monday by mobilizing 30 helicopters -- 16 Apaches, four CH-47D Chinook helicopters, and 10 UH-60P Blackhawk helicopters. Troops practiced infiltrating enemy territory from the air while the Apache choppers fired some 150 rockets and 450 machine-gun rounds to incapacitate the imaginary enemy.