S. Korea, Philippines stage friendship flight during multinational drills in Australia

South Korea and the Philippines conducted a friendship flight during a major multinational exercise in Australia on Wednesday, the South's Air Force said. South Korean F-15K fighter jets and FA-50PHs of the Philippines took part in the friendship flight conducted near an air base in Darwin in northern Australia where the biennial Exercise Pitch Black is under way, according to the Air Force. The Air Force attached significance to the event, noting that it was conducted in a year marking the 75th anniversary of bilateral ties between the two nations. Manila acquired 12 South Korea-built FA-50PHs in 2014. Stephen Parreno, commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, visited the South's Air Force facilities Monday at the Australian air base. Calling the FA-50PH a "core asset" of his country's Air Force, the commander said that strengthening ties between the Air Forces of the two nations is "essential" for regional security and mutual growth and expressed his intent to expand drills and exchanges based on their partnership, according to the South's Air Force. Exercise Pitch Black, which involves 20 countries and over 140 aircraft this year, kicked off July 12 and will run through Aug. 2. South Korea has dispatched six F-15K fighters and some 100 troops for the exercise. Source: Yonhap News Agency