Seoul, April 10 (IANS): The South Korean and the US air forces on Friday launched a large-scale aerial exercise to boost combined defence capabilities.

The bi-annual 'Max Thunder' joint maneuver, set to take place in South Korean airspace till April 24, will "involve around 100 aircraft and 1,400 service personnel from the allies to display and hone our best combined air defence capabilities", the South Korean air force headquarters said in a statement.

Some 50 South Korean aircraft will join the exercise, including the combat jets as well as its light attackers, Yonhap News Agency quoted the statement as saying.

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

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 first round, and the US leading the second, the statement added.