The South Korean and U.S. Air Forces launched a large-scale, regular aerial exercise on Friday to boost combined defense capabilities.

The biannual Max Thunder joint maneuver, set to take place in South Korean airspace through April 24, will "involve around 100 aircraft and 1,400 service personnel from the allies to display and hone our best combined air defense capabilities," the Air Force headquarters said in a release.

Some 50 South Korean aircraft will join the exercise, including the F-15K and KF-16 combat jets as well as its light attacker the FA-50. The U.S. is to send its F-16 and F-15 fighters, it added.

Training missions will be based on simulating air battles that aim to neutralize an enemy's air defense system with strong readiness and joint air firepower in case of an emergency, according to officers.

Max Thunder was officially initiated in 2009 on the basis of an allied joint drill from the previous year. Two rounds are held each year with the South Korean Air Force leading the round held in the first half of the year, and the U.S. leading the second in the second half.

"We will continue to intensify our combat readiness through this kind of practical exercise and to further strengthen joint operations ability to sternly and strongly respond to enemy provocations," said Col. Kim Heung-soo, the commander of the drill. (Yonhap)