PH, US air forces to hold Cope Thunder Exercise 2025 on April 7 to 18

The air forces of the Philippines and United States are set to conduct Cope Thunder Philippines Exercise from April 7 to 18, 2025, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said on Tuesday.

“Also upcoming is our annual Cope Thunder PH Exercise, which is dubbed as Cope Thunder PH 25-1. Cope Thunder PH is an annual bilateral [US Pacific Air Forces]-sponsored exercise with one or two iterations,” PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuela Castillo said in a press briefing.

According to the United States Air Force (USAF), the Cope Thunder bilateral military exercise focuses on enhancing cooperation and interoperability between the U.S. and Philippine Air Forces.

“The first iteration of this exercise will take place from April 7 to 18, 2025,” she added.

According to Castillo, the second iteration of the exercise will be scheduled for June.

The Cope Thunder PH, which will be conducted in Northern Luzon, aims to sustain and develop security as well as promote interoperability of the two forces in air and ground operations. 

In related news, the PAF said Tuesday it will lift the grounding of the FA-50 fleet following a comprehensive inspection and weeks after the fatal crash of one aircraft in Bukidnon.

The PAF currently has 11 South Korean-made FA-50s which serve as as the country's primary air defense fighter jet. —RF, GMA Integrated News