The U.S. Air Force has launched the next phase of its Super Squadron Test by relocating the first wave of F-16 Fighting Falcons from Kunsan Air Base to Osan AB in South Korea.
Starting July 28, the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan began receiving F-16 aircraft as part of the broader initiative to evaluate whether consolidating a larger number of jets and support personnel under one wing can increase combat power while improving operational efficiency.
“Osan is receiving additional F-16s as part of the Air Force’s Super Squadron Test Part II initiative, which is a force-optimization test designed to see if a larger, consolidated squadron can generate more combat power and operate more efficiently,” said Capt. Bryce Hughes, 51st Maintenance Group Officer and Sortie Generation Flight commander.
According to the Air Force, approximately 31 F-16s and nearly 1,000 Airmen are expected to be temporarily reassigned from Kunsan to Osan by October 2025, when Phase II of the test is scheduled to begin in full. The transition follows Phase I, which began in October 2024 with the movement of nine F-16s and 150 Airmen to Osan.
The test is being managed by the 51st Fighter Wing and the 36th Fighter Generation Squadron at Osan AB, with a focus on validating efficiencies in areas such as aircraft maintenance, manpower integration, and logistics support.
Senior Master Sgt. Jason Thomas, 51st Maintenance Group Sortie Generation Flight chief, emphasized how the transition is already testing the Air Force’s push toward flexible and resilient operational models.
“I hear a lot about concepts like Multi-Capable Airmen or Mission Ready Airmen, but our Airmen are truly making the concept a reality,” Thomas said. “It’s truly impressive how our Airmen have been able to adjust.”
As part of the integration, maintainers originally assigned to Osan are now working alongside the incoming 36th Fighter Generation Squadron personnel to cross-train and streamline sortie generation.
The test is expected to continue through October 2026, providing a long-term evaluation of whether this larger, centralized force structure can support combat readiness and streamline day-to-day operations under high-tempo conditions.
Col. Ryan Ley, commander of the 51st Fighter Wing, highlighted the importance of maintaining operational readiness throughout the test period.
“The 51st Fighter Wing is leading the charge on the Super Squadron Test,” Ley said. “I’m proud of what the Mustangs have accomplished already, and I look forward to testing the limits of what we can do over the next year.”
Ley added that the wing will continue to maintain Osan AB’s “Fight Tonight” posture, underscoring the importance of staying mission-ready while implementing force structure experiments.
The effort is also closely coordinated with the Republic of Korea Air Force, with a view toward enhancing bilateral training opportunities during the test period.
The Super Squadron Test reflects the Air Force’s evolving approach to forward deployment, emphasizing adaptability, sustainability, and rapid force projection in contested environments. It also provides a model for future airpower experiments across other theaters of operation.