Cope North 25 Brings USAF, RAAF and JASDF 5th Gen Capability Together

The US Air Force (USAF), Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) recently training together with their fifth-generation aircraft as part of Exercise Cope North at Guam.

This is the first time that F-35A Lightning IIs from all three participating air forces trained together. The US Marine Corps also joined the exercises with its F-35B Lightning IIs.

The JASDF contingent for the exercise comprised of 6 F-35As, 2 E-2Ds and 1 KC-46A, while the RAAF participated with eight F-35As, a KC-30A MRTT and an E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C. Other types that took part in the exercise, which concluded on 21 February, included F-16 Fighting Falcons; F-18C/D Hornets; EA-18G Growlers; KC-46 Pegasus’s; Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker; KC-130J Hercules; Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules; E-3G Sentry; MH-60S Seahawk; and an E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node.

“Cope North 25 is an opportunity for the USAF, RAAF and JASDF to integrate at a level of training that you can't accomplish anywhere else,” said U. Air Force Capt. Bobby Evans, 134th Fighter Squadron electronic combat pilot. “The airspace here is unrestrictive, and the amount of time we are able to spend tackling problems together is a fantastic experience.”

Each nation operates their country operates their F-35s in a unique way, and as a result, trilateral integration exercises such as CN25 are vital for greater interoperability between partner nations. The exercise focused on coordination of combined air tactics, techniques, and procedures between the air arms involved to compete, deter, or, if needed, win in armed conflict.

“The number one goal of Cope North is the integration of the F-35 tactics between the three nations, Japan, Australia and the United States," said US Air Force Col. Charles Schuck, 3rd Wing commander. “We all use the F-35, so you would think that one airplane means that we do everything the same, but that's an assumption we have to validate.”

The integration of American, Australian and Japanese F-35 fighters as part of the exercise was unique, as it facilitated the exchange of information between the air arms on how to employ, maintain, and command and control these fifth-generation fighters effectively.

The Defense Ministers of Australia, Japan and the USA had committed in May 2024 to conduct F-35 training in all three countries.