During the military exercise, Freedom Shield 24 (FS24) involved U.S. Army and Republic of Korea Army soldiers in South Korea, K-SAM Chunma (Pegasus) and and K30W Chunho was deployed by the South Korean armed forces. As one of the largest training events, FS24, tests participants with complex challenges, facilitated by observer-controllers, and includes comprehensive after-action reviews to ensure constant improvement. The FS24 military exercise involved military forces from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States and aimed to reflect the Korea Theater of Operations, which includes a combined, joint, multi-domain, and interagency operating environment. FS24 is designed to build understanding and coordination between the Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, and the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The exercise featured live, virtual, constructive, and field-based training, engaging military personnel from various services and other federal agencies. It focuses on conducting multi-domain operations that leverage land, sea, air, cyber, and space assets, with an emphasis on counter-nuclear operations and non-kinetic effects. Service members from 12 United Nations Command Member States, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, and the U.S., are participating, adding to the international character of the exercise. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission is also observing and conducting third-party observations in line with the Armistice Agreement responsibilities.
The K-SAM Chunma (Pegasus) is a self-propelled surface-to-air missile system and is the South Korean version of the Crotale. In 1999, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces awarded a contract to Samsung and Thales to jointly develop a South Korean-augmented Crotale NG system for the K-SAM Pegasus short-range air defense system. It was developed to provide defense against low and medium altitude air attacks. It can engage all threats flying within five kilometers using a Command-to-Line-Of-Sight (CLOS) guidance system. A new sensor system was jointly developed by Samsung and Thales to meet the required operational capability of the upcoming K-SAM Chumna as well as a new indigenous missile by LIG Nex1. The electronics and radars were developed by Samsung Electronics. Doosan DST (now Hanwa Aerospace) integrated this modified Crotale NG system with a K200 KIFV tracked armored personnel carrier.
The K30W Chunho (Sky Tiger) is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system developed by Hanwha Aerospace. The K30W Chunho consists of modified Hanwha Defense K30 Biho self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) and Hyundai Rotem K808 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier chassis. The main armament of the K30W Chunho consists of two 30mm Rheinmetall Air Defense (Oerlikon) KCB automatic cannons. These cannons are manufactured under license by the South Korean S&T group and are designed to offer effective defense against low-flying aircraft and drones. Search radar from the original K30 Biho has been removed. Instead, it maintains wired and wireless datalink with TPS-880K Local Air Defense Radar (LADR) and Air Defense Command & Control Alert (ADC2A) Network. The use of existing proven technology and platform significantly reduced development time and cost as well.
