Enhancing defense capabilities

AS PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was meeting with his host in Washington DC President Joe Biden, the two countries’ air forces have geared up for a 12-day combat training exercise in the Philippines.

The first was held in 1976 and continued annually in the Philippines until 1990 when the erstwhile dormant Mount Pinatubo erupted after 600 years and sent the Americans hurrying home, which coincided with the Philippine Senate move to close the two giant facilities at Clark and Subic.

The 12-day exercise, dubbed Cope Thunder, began on the same day President Marcos met with President Biden at the White House on the increasingly close defense bonds between Manila and Washington, as both are tackling with Beijing’s growing military muscle.

The second iteration of this air exercise, dubbed CT-Ph 23-2, will be held from July 2 to 21.

The Philippine Air Force and the United States Air Force are holding the military exercise aimed at coordinating different aircraft and various defensive and offensive tactics.

“The exercise involves around 160 USAF service members and 400 PAF airmen from different PAF units,” Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement Tuesday.

Some of the aircraft involved in the exercise are the American F-16s and PAF FA-50PHs which earlier participated in the just concluded 18day Balikatan.

The focus of Cope Thunder 23-1 is air-to-air operations and subject matter expert exchanges.

Castillo said: “A key component of (Cope Thunder) is the mission planning cell, responsible for planning and coordinating the integration of different aircraft and the execution of defensive counter air and offensive counter air operations.

“The MPC will work closely with SMEEs (Subject Matter Expert Exchanges) to ensure all participating personnel are trained and ready to undertake the mission,” Castillo said.

The primary flight operations will take place at Clark Air Base, Pampanga.

The first week will focus on DCA operations which involve the identification, tracking, and interception of enemy aircraft in the vicinity of friendly forces.

To support these operations, SMEEs on maintenance and security forces training will be conducted, with these SMEEs providing participants “with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain their equipment and ensure security in the operational field,” according to Castillo.

The second week of operations will emphasize on OCA operations, which involve offensive attacks on enemy aircraft and ground targets.

These exercises aim to provide an opportunity for PAF and the US Pacific Air Forces to enhance their capabilities and readiness to respond to potential threats in the region.

These exercises aim to provide an opportunity for PAF and the US Pacific Air Forces to enhance their capabilities and readiness to respond to potential threats in the region