Philippines, US to hold Cope Thunder air combat exercises twice in 2023
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force confirmed that it will conduct joint fighter training with its US counterpart this year as Cope Thunder gets scheduled for May and July.
The first iteration of the exercises is scheduled for May 1 to 12 (CT-PH 23-1), while the second round is slated for July 2 to 21 (CT-PH 23-2). It follows the biggest Balikatan exercises that saw 17,000 American, Filipino, and Australian troops train together.
Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF spokesperson, said around 160 US Air Force service members and 400 PAF airmen will be participating in Cope Thunder, which will focus on Air-to-Air Operations and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges. Exercises will be held at Clark Air Base in Pampanga, where it was held during the years of the Cold War.
Cope Thunder, which ended in the Philippines because of the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, used to host air forces from across Southeast Asia, and Australia and New Zealand.
"The exercise aims to provide an opportunity for PAF and [Pacific Air Forces, PACAF] to enhance their capabilities and readiness to respond to potential threats in the region," Castillo said in a statement on Tuesday.
At the center of the CT-PH 23-1 is the Mission Planning Cell that facilitates how planes would be integrated during missions and the execution of Defense Counter Air and Offensive Counter Air operations. Exercises will be divided into two, with the first week focused on defense while the latter half will be devoted to offensive operations.
According to the PAF, DCA operations training will include the identification, tracking, and interception of enemy aircraft. Experts will provide American and Filipino air personnel relevant workshops on how to maintain equipment and security forces training that may be utilized while in the field.
OCA operations training, meanwhile, will involve exercises for offensive attacks against enemy planes as well as ground targets.
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