Exercise Cope North 2023 under way with reduced Australian presence
Approximately 100 aircraft from participating nations will fly 1,200 sorties across seven islands and ten airfields. (Photo: US DoD)
Approximately 2,000 personnel from Australia, France, Japan and the US will participate in the US Pacific Air Forces' largest multilateral exercise with a focus on airborne integration.
The USAF, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the French Air and Space Force began exercise Cope North in Guam on 8 February.
The US Pacific Air Forces’ largest multilateral exercise is taking place between 8 and 24 February and features about 1,000 US personnel and another 1,000 from the other three participating nations.
Approximately 100 aircraft from the participating nations will fly 1,200 sorties across seven islands and ten airfields in a field training exercise focused on trilateral airborne integration for large-force combat deployment, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
USAF Col Jared Pasley said during a public briefing: ‘Logistics in a crisis field exercise is… important. Fuel, infrastructure, runways, landings, consumables are also a key focus of this exercise.’
‘If you look at how difficult it will be to operate at ten different locations in the Mariana Islands chain — that is a logistics challenge.’
Cope North 23 will provide an opportunity to consolidate and further enhance interoperability with the US and Japan, said RAAF task group commander, Grp Capt Robert Graham.
He added that the RAAF participation this year was significantly reduced ‘because we have other commitments elsewhere in the world and at home'.
The multilateral exercise series is focused on trilateral airborne integration for large-force employment, agile combat employment, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training.
Cope North was established in 1978 as a quarterly bilateral exercise held at Misawa Air Base, Japan and moved to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in 1999.
More from Training
-
![British Army Strategic Training Partner bidders drop from seven to four]()
British Army Strategic Training Partner bidders drop from seven to four
Three of the bidding consortia have dropped out of the competition to become STP for the British Army Collective Training Service.
-
![What is preventing the US Pentagon from succeeding in multi-domain scenarios?]()
What is preventing the US Pentagon from succeeding in multi-domain scenarios?
Outstanding issues to be addressed include improving doctrine, increasing the number of joint exercises and better integrating capabilities across the services.
-
![AI innovation set to revolutionise military training landscape]()
AI innovation set to revolutionise military training landscape
Artificial intelligence offers unprecedented potential to revolutionise military training, enabling agile and decisive forces.
-
![Training Together: Unlocking Educational Excellence through Military and Industry Collaboration (Studio)]()
Training Together: Unlocking Educational Excellence through Military and Industry Collaboration (Studio)
Military training is ultimately about people. At Capita, training programmes are built on close engagement with partners, delivering an educational approach that can adapt to individual needs, cultivate leadership – and drive wider cultural change.
-
![Three A-29 Super Tucanos find new home at US Air Force Test Pilot School]()
Three A-29 Super Tucanos find new home at US Air Force Test Pilot School
Embraer’s light attack aircraft were selected by Edwards Air Force Base to join its test pilot school, following their abandonment by US Air Force Special Operations Command.
-
![Enhancing Military Training Through Digital Technology (Studio)]()
Enhancing Military Training Through Digital Technology (Studio)
Digital technologies offer huge opportunities for defence training. However, militaries must adopt an agile approach, placing the needs of their organisations and personnel at the centre of their efforts.
