The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed two aircraft and approximately 170 personnel to the island of Guam to enhance trilateral interoperability with the United States and Japan as part of Exercise Cope North 21. The exercise started on 3 February and continues to 19 February and is being held at Andersen Air Force Base. This is the 11th time Australia is participating in Exercise Cope North. Exercise Cope North is a long-standing combined military exercise which aims to improve combat readiness, develop humanitarian assistance procedures, and build common understanding between the United States, Australia and Japan.
Group Captain (GPCAPT) Nathan Christie, Australian Commander for Exercise Cope North 21, said the exercise had proven to be an effective way to strengthen the trilateral military partnership, and increase the complexity of combined activities. “More than 2000 military personnel and approximately 95 aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are scheduled to participate in this exercise,” Christie said. “Australian personnel are drawn from across Air Force with elements of Surveillance and Response Group, Air Mobility Group, and Combat Support Group participating. An E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, and a Contingency Response Squadron have also deployed to the exercise. The first week will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises and strike mission training, while the second week will focus on air combat tactics and large force employment training.”
The Exercise Cope North 21 scenario will develop coalition procedures in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and air power missions, including air superiority, close air support, interdiction, electronic warfare, tactical air mobility, and airborne command and control.
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Great chance to incorporate the low profile WedgeTail into the mix of Japan and US experience,
even a more semi permanent mix from Hamamatsu would give our crews the Korean sweeps.
Usually using E-2D, a pair of F22/ F35’s and a bunch of Trainer jets along for the ride.
The E-7A could be slotted in as an alternative. The north stairwell of the Museum gives you
a awesome afternoon air display of the returning Aircraft from The Sea of Japan, cheers Grant