SEOUL - South Korean and US air forces kicked off Monday a five-day joint exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability.

The drill, dubbed Max Thunder, is conducted in western airspace of the Korean peninsula and mobilizes some 300 airmen from the two countries.

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The biggest among scheduled exercises this year, it will also involve 60 warplanes including F-15K fighter jets, F-16 fighter jets and AWACS surveillance aircrafts, according to local reports.

The allies will simulate an air battle and engage in operations to strike an enemy's military facility and rescue pilots, according to reports.

The Max Thunder exercise is aimed at replicating the scenarios and planning cycles of the Red Flag exercise by US air forces, an air combat training exercise.