Cope Thunder 23-2, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise, will happen from July 2 to 21. The exercise will deal with expeditionary operations and can include roughly 225 service members from the US and the Philippines. The exercise will likely be held at Clark Air Base, Mactan Air Base, and other airfields across the Philippines.
Cope Thunder is a bilateral exercise that goals to enhance the interoperability of the US and the Philippines through fighter training. The exercise will allow the 2 countries to swap tactics, techniques, and procedures.
Cope Thunder was first held in 1976 within the Philippines. Nonetheless, in 1992, it was moved to Eielson Air Force Base and additional time renamed Red Flag Alaska. This can mark the primary time Cope Thunder has been held within the Philippines since 1990.
The exercise is a worthwhile opportunity for the US and the Philippines to enhance their military cooperation and exchange helpful tactics and can feature C-130 Hercules, A-10 Warthogs, and F-22 Raptors, taken from multiple participating units for the exercise.
The aircraft on display include, but aren’t limited to those, and showcased a Philippine Air Force FA-50 performing a touch-and-go on July 5. On the identical day, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the Hawaiian Raptors Squadron, which is made up of the nineteenth and 199th Fighter Squadrons, landed at Clark Air Base within the Philippines to take part in exercise Cope Thunder 23-2.
The general goal of this exercise is to heighten our countries’ shared interests and strengthen the 2 nation’s military bonds. By working together and providing well-trained and equipped troops, the nation dissuades aggressors by demonstrating the military’s commitment to working together to make sure regional stability.
Georgina DiNardo is an editorial fellow for Military Times and Defense News and a recent graduate of American University, specializing in journalism, psychology, and photography in Washington, D.C.