WATERS TO THE EAST OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA - The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and Republic of Korea navy (ROKN) conducted air defense exercises (ADEX), Oct. 26-29, during bilateral training off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.

The four-day ADEX was a bilateral effort between the two nations naval and air forces to operate together and work through different airborne threat scenarios that the ships may encounter at sea.

“Every chance we get to work with our naval allies is a step in the right direction in keeping with security and freedom of navigation in the western Pacific,” said Capt. Curt Renshaw, commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62). “We learn a bit more from each other each time and strengthen our maritime partnerships through these exercises.”

The main participants in this exercise were the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), Chancellorsville, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), Republic of Korea navy ship’s ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG 991), ROKS Yulgok Yi I (DDG 992), and ROKS Yang Manchun (DDH 973).

Along with the surface ships, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 embarked on Ronald Reagan and Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132operating from Osan Air Base, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and other squadron entities participated in the event.

The exercise utilized an array of different rotary and fixed-winged aircraft such as the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, and Korean F-16 fighter jets.

“For this exercise, we separated the aircraft into two groups, red and blue forces, red playing the part of the threat,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Hubert Beecher, the air intercept controller supervisor aboard Chancellorsville. “This allows us to test tactics and procedures while simultaneously engaging and communicating with the ROKN in a controlled environment.”

The exercise played out in Chancellorsville’s combat information center (CIC) where Sailors experienced and worked through each of the five scenarios over the course of three days.

Chancellorsville is is participating in bilateral training with the Republic of Korea Navy to strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance and improve regional security.