Philippines, US air forces start second iteration of Cope Thunder 2023

The Air Forces of the Philippines and the United States have opened its second iteration of Cope Thunder 2023 at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Friday.

In a statement, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the bilateral air operations exercises, which will be held until July 21, will focus on large force deployment of aircraft.

The participants in the exercises include 585  Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) service members and 687 Airmen from various PAF units.

According to the PAF, the activities will cover subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) and field training exercises (FTXs).

The venues for the drills are Basa Air Base and Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Tarlac, Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, and General Santos City.

Cope Thunder aims to enhance the capabilities and readiness of PAF and Pacific Air Forces to respond to potential threats in the region.

The opening ceremony was led by PAF Air Defense Command chief Major General Augustine Malinit  who served as the guest of honor and speaker in the event.

Also present were Brigadier General Sarah Russ from PACAF Director of Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements; PAF 5th Fighter Wing chief Brigadier General Leo Fontanilla; and Cope Thunder PH 23-2 director Colonel Thomas Ryan Seguin from PAF.

The first reiteration of Cope Thunder was conducted in May.

The Philippine and United States air forces revived the Cope Thunder joint exercise after it was stopped in 1991.

Cope Thunder began in the Philippines in 1976.

It was moved to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in 1992 and eventually renamed Red Flag Alaska, the Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs said.

Cope Thunder was moved to Eielson from Clark Air Base in the Philippines in 1992 after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo forced the curtailment of its operations.

In 1991, the Philippine Senate also rejected the renewal of the US base lease in the country. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News