US B-1B bomber, F-22 fighters To Participate In Seoul Airshow Next Week

The US Air Force announced Friday that they are preparing to send a B-1B Lancer strategic bomber, F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets and other key defence assets to participate in an airshow to be held next week in Seoul, Yonhap news agency reports.

Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2017 is scheduled from October 17-22 at the Seoul K-16 airport.

In addition to the F-22 Raptor and B-1B Lancer jets, A-10 Thunderbolt II, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, E-3 Sentry, U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk will also participate, the 7th Air Force said in a statement.

Also in the line-up is the US Air Force's latest fifth-generation fighter, the F-35A Lightning II, US Navy P-8A Poseidon and a US Army CH-47F Chinook.

Lieutenant General Thomas Bergeson, the 7th Air Force commander and US Forces Korea deputy commander, reportedly said that the Seoul Adex 2017 event "represents a unique opportunity for citizens of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to get an up-close look at some of the air assets the US military brings to the ironclad ROK-US alliance".

The airshow comes at a time when tensions between the US and North Korea are at an all-time high, with the latter repeatedly threatening to attack US cities and territories unless it stops military activities in the Korean peninsula.