U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan, and the Indonesian Air Force will participate in Cope West 2021 (CW21) at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base, Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia, June 14-25. Approximately 100 U.S. service members will participate in the field training exercise with service members from the Indonesian Air Force. The exercise will involve six F-16s from the 13th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, and six F-16s from the Indonesian Air Force.
“Cope West is a valuable bilateral exercise designed to advance interoperability and build on the strong partnership that exists between U.S. military forces and the Indonesian Air Force,” said Lt Col Jordan Kahn, Commander, 13th Fighter Squadron. “It also allows for the exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures through air-to-air combat training and promotes regional stability through cooperation.”
Cope West 2021 will be the first iteration of the exercise since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In coordination with military medical personnel and public health personnel, extensive mitigation efforts will be employed to enhance the safety and well-being of U.S. and Indonesian participants. Cope West is a recurring exercise that has occurred since 1989. The exercise will afford both countries the opportunity to exchange techniques in aircraft generation and recovery, close air support training, and air-to-air fighter training and host subject-matter expert exchange across various career fields
Cope West is a two week Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, bilateral exercise designed to advance interoperability and build upon already established partnerships between U.S. military forces and Indonesian air forces. U.S. forces routinely conduct operations, exercises and training missions with other countries in the Pacific. These regional engagements are focused on improving interoperability and familiarization with allies and partners while providing an optimal training environment for increased readiness preparing both countries to work together in promoting a peaceful Indo-Pacific region.
