European and Pacific Stars & Stripes -
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Published on: 7/1/2004
Last Visited: 7/1/2004
Deborah Bertrand, a USFK spokeswoman.
"These forces, to include personnel and equipment … will gain valuable interoperability and experience training with the combined forces of the ROK-U.S. alliance for defense of the ROK.The deployment includes one squadron of F-117s, to Kunsan, as part of the U.S.'s $11 billion force enhancements package to the ROK," she added.
The stealth aircraft, along with upgraded Patriot missile batteries and unmanned aerial vehicles, are the most highly touted of the $11 billion upgrades promised by the United States to assuage jitters about restructuring or reducing the number of U.S. forces in South Korea.
American officials repeatedly have stressed "capabilities" instead of numbers of boots on the ground, and the deployment of the stealth squadron is another move in that direction.
However, it is not the first time the aircraft have deployed to South Korea, USFK officials said.Last year, F-117s participated in the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSO&I) exercise and "remained for additional training for another month," Bertrand said.