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The Royal Australian Air Force has sent a contingent of aircraft and personnel for trilateral air interoperability training at Exercise Cope North 25 in Guam.
More than 275 aviators, eight F-35As, a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft have been deployed from the RAAF to Andersen Air Force Base from February 3 to 21.
The United States Pacific Air Forces, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy and Japan Air Self-Defense Force will fly approximately 85 F-35As and F-35Bs. This is the first time that F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Japan, the United States and Australia will be training together at Cope North.
RAAF Contingent Commander Group Captain Darryl Porter said the exercise would advance the commitment made by Australian, Japanese and United States defence ministers in May 2024 to conduct F-35 training in all three countries.
“Exercise Cope North 25 is the first activity to be conducted under a 2024 Memorandum of Intent to increase trilateral air cooperation between the RAAF, PACAF and JASDF,” Group Captain Porter said.
“Bringing our F-35s and workforces together allows us to build on relationships and share practices, which will increase our interoperability with each other.”
Cope North 25 is the first in a series of trilateral exercises with fifth-generation air warfare capabilities and whole-of-force integration as its focus.
During the Exercise, the three nations will build cooperation, enhance command and control practices, and develop air combat tactics during missions in the Western Pacific.
“Australia has participated in Exercise Cope North since 2011, and coming to Guam provides valuable training experience for aviators deploying into the Indo-Pacific region,” Group Captain Porter said.
“We can recreate challenging scenarios and mission objectives for what is already a highly-skilled workforce, operating some of the world’s most capable aircraft and systems.
“This is key to ensuring our aviators are prepared to generate and deliver effective air power, and stand ready to contribute to the collective security of the Indo-Pacific.”
