F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Japan, the United States and Australia have begun training together for the first time as part of Exercise Cope North 25. Cope North 25 is running from 3 – 21 February at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. This is a key milestone for trilateral air interoperability and begins frequent trilateral F-35 activities between Australia, Japan and the United States.
The exercise involves a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) contingent of 275 aviators, eight F-35As, a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. The United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), United States Marine Corps (USMC), United States Navy (USN), and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will fly approximately 85 F-35As and F-35Bs. 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.
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 for air cooperation 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.”
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.”
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