The United States Air Force on Monday established a permanent drone presence on the Korean Peninsula, reviving a historic World War II-era squadron amid growing military tensions in the region.
The 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was formally activated at Kunsan Air Base, located on South Korea’s west coast, south of the capital Seoul.
The unit will fly MQ-9 Reaper drones from the facility, enhancing US surveillance and combat capabilities.
An Air Force statement confirmed, “MQ-9 operations will support US-Korean priorities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance across the Indo-Pacific theater.”
The MQ-9 Reaper is a single-engine unmanned turboprop capable of long-range and endurance missions. With a range exceeding 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometres) and the ability to remain airborne indefinitely with aerial refuelling, the deployment significantly expands the reach of US forces in East Asia.
The Reapers’ operational radius not only covers the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), about 150 miles north of Kunsan, but also stretches to the East China Sea and Taiwan, roughly 800 miles away.
The Chinese mainland lies just 250 miles from Kunsan, while the Bohai Sea, a regular site of Chinese naval drills, is approximately 600 miles from the base.
“Deploying the MQ-9 brings a powerful capability to the region,” said Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Slater, who will command the squadron. “We’re here to support the mission, deepen cooperation and demonstrate our shared commitment to maintaining security and stability across the Indo-Pacific.”
The establishment of the Reaper unit comes shortly after the US repositioned F-16 fighter jets closer to North Korea and follows a display of unity between Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping at a recent military parade in Beijing.
The Air Force noted that, in July, 31 F-16s and 1,000 personnel were relocated from Kunsan to Osan Air Base, just over 80 miles to the north, forming what it termed a “super squadron” nearer to the North Korean border.
That temporary transfer is expected to last until October next year, aimed at maximising combat effectiveness on the peninsula.
For combat operations, the MQ-9s are capable of carrying Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs, in addition to their surveillance functions.
The naming of the new drone unit as the 431st Squadron revives a title first established during the Second World War. Originally activated in 1943 as the 431st Fighter Squadron in Australia, the unit flew P-38 Lightning fighters as bomber escorts in the Pacific theatre.
The squadron was last active as a test unit for F-111 aircraft in California before being disbanded in 1992. Its reactivation in South Korea marks a return to the Pacific arena more than three decades later.
Although the Air Force has not disclosed the number of MQ-9s to be stationed at Kunsan, its permanent deployment underscores Washington’s continued commitment to South Korea and its regional allies at a time of shifting global priorities.
“We’re here to support the mission and demonstrate our shared commitment to maintaining security and stability across the Indo-Pacific,” Lt. Col. Slater reiterated.
The move signals to allies and adversaries alike that the US remains firmly engaged in Indo-Pacific security, projecting strength not only against threats from North Korea but also in response to China’s growing military presence in the region.