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Royal Australian Air Force Joins US Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force for Exercise Cope North 2023

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Royal Australian Air Force Joins US Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force for Exercise Cope North 2023

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Royal Australian Air Force Joins US Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force for Exercise Cope North 2023
Royal Australian Air Force Joins US Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force for Exercise Cope North 2023

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed a C-27J Spartan aircraft and personnel to participate in Exercise Cope North in Guam, from 8 to 24 February 2023. The long standing joint military exercise focuses on increased combat readiness and humanitarian assistance training with the United States and Japan. The RAAF will train alongside the United States Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) at Andersen Air Force Base, Won Pat International Airport, and North West Field (Guam); Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands including Rota, Tinian, and Saipan; Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia; Iwo To, Japan; and the Republic of Palau.

RAAF Task Group Commander, Group Captain Robert Graham said,“Cope North 23 will be an excellent opportunity to consolidate and further enhance interoperability with the United States and Japan. Exercise Cope North 23 will provide training opportunities and invaluable experience for our people in a challenging scenario, and we are looking forward to working with our friends from the United States and Japan again. We are focused on deepening relationships and strengthening engagement with the United States Pacific Air Forces and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.”

511 Tactical
A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan pilot, assigned to Squadron No. 35, conducts search and rescue operations Feb. 11, 2023, off the coast of Guam. U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy. U.S. Air Force, Guam National Guard, Royal Australian Air Force, French Air and Space Force, and other local Guam rescue units conducted more than 26 search patterns over more than 96 hours, saturating an area of more than 7,566 square nautical miles.
A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan pilot, assigned to Squadron No. 35, conducts search and rescue operations Feb. 11, 2023, off the coast of Guam. U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy. U.S. Air Force, Guam National Guard, Royal Australian Air Force, French Air and Space Force, and other local Guam rescue units conducted more than 26 search patterns over more than 96 hours, saturating an area of more than 7,566 square nautical miles. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Charles Fultz/U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia / Sector Guam)

“A testing scenario involving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief will drive a range of planning and logistics challenges which will need our combined capability with the United States and Japan to deliver credible responses. The RAAF is committed to developing capable and skilled aviators – exercises such as Cope North provide an excellent opportunity to train as a combined force with our allies and partners, improving our ability to deliver air power when and where required,” Group Captain Graham said.

Exercise Cope North 23 will enhance the trilateral forces’ capability for agile combat employment by operating from multiple locations on Guam and surrounding islands. Established in 1978 as a quarterly bilateral exercise held at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Cope North moved to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in 1999. It is the United States Pacific Air Forces’ largest multilateral exercise. 2023 marks the thirteenth year the RAAF will travel to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam to participate in Exercise Cope North.

An Australian No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in support of Cope North 2023, Feb. 6, 2023. Cope North enhances U.S. relationships with our regional allies and partners by fostering the exchange of information and refining shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to better integrate multinational defense capabilities.
An Australian No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in support of Cope North 2023, Feb. 6, 2023. Cope North enhances U.S. relationships with our regional allies and partners by fostering the exchange of information and refining shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to better integrate multinational defense capabilities. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Hernandez/Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs)

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