Recent official discussions about transferring command of forces in South Korea to Seoul have focused exclusively on ground forces, according to Gen. Paul Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces. Defense officials from both sides have denied reports that the discussions do not include air assets. However, Hester told Air Force Magazine in an interview Tuesday that operational command of USAF assets in Korea will remain with 7th Air Force.
The Air Force wants to pump more than $12 billion over the next five years into its new affordable long-range missiles program and recently asked industry to push the flights of some of those munitions beyond 1,200 miles.