PAF, PACAF kick off Cope Thunder Philippines

On Monday, July 7, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) launched the second iteration of Exercise Cope Thunder Philippines at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

The exercise will run until July 18 across multiple training sites in Northern Luzon to strengthen defense ties between the two nations, involving more than 2,500 personnel with 2,301 from the PAF and 225 from PACAF.

PAF is deploying FA-50PH fighter jets, A-29B Super Tucanos, AW109 helicopters, S-76A, and S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, while PACAF will contribute F-35 fighter aircraft for the first time in this exercise.

Activities include Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) and Field Training Exercises (FTXs), focusing on improving operational tactics, joint mission capabilities, and interoperability with advanced technology and training.

The participation of the F-35 marks a significant milestone, enhancing capability exposure and training for PAF while strengthening mutual defense readiness and regional security in the Indo-Pacific region.