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The RAAF has completed what it says are its first trilateral joint exercises involving fifth-generation air warfare capabilities as Exercise Cope North 25 wraps up.
Members of the RAAF, United States Air Force (USAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) worked together on “whole-of-force integration in complex and realistic scenarios” in the exercises, which included the RAAF’s F-35A Lightning II fleet.
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“Each country played a role in every aspect of the exercise planning, briefing, executing and debriefing mission sets. Integration occurred across all cells, including aircrew, maintenance, security forces, logistics and intelligence cells,” a Defence statement read.
“Multiple visits and tours of each country’s refuelling and command and control aircraft were also highly integrated.
“The three countries prioritised learning from each other to better their own understanding of how the other operates, while also evolving towards becoming a lethal and unified force in the Indo-Pacific region.”
According to Cope North lead planner Lieutenant Colonel David Overstreet, the exercises “set the standard for building fully integrated operations”.
“If you don’t work and train together in this environment and you don’t share training, tactics and procedures, when you have to use them in the real world no one will be on the same level,” he said.
“We are all trying to be great, and the only way to do that is to practise how you would fight – and that’s together.”
RAAF 75 Squadron incorporated USAF and JASDF members into F-35A operations, including loading high explosive armaments, with RAAF and JSDAF technicians also performing post-flight maintenance checks on USAF planes.
According to Commanding Officer 75 Squadron, Wing Commander Andrew Nilson, “interoperability and full integration” were the main goals of the exercise.
“We wouldn’t get the same depth of knowledge and learning if we did an exercise like Cope North disjointed or disconnected,” Wing Commander Nilson said.
“Being able to be in the same place, working together, is incredibly important.
“From an aircrew perspective, being able to execute and train with contemporary tactics, techniques and procedures with the United States and Japan will hopefully help to build personal relationships so we know we have each other to call on when we need it.”
The Coalition has pledged to invest in 28 more F-35As should it win this year’s election, taking Australia’s fleet from 72 to 100.
