Second Phase of Trilateral Exercise Cope Tiger Underway

The 2nd phase of the trilateral Exercise Cope Tiger is now underway in Thailand. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) are participating in the Flying Training Exercise now underway at Korat Air Base and Chandy Range, Thailand. The first phase was a Command Post Exercise, held at the Multinational Operations and Exercise Centre in Changi Naval Base, Singapore, in December 2024

“We value the opportunity to train alongside our counterparts from Thailand and the United States in the exercise. It allows us to execute air defence, strike and UAV operations to enhance our combat readiness and operational capabilities. The long-standing nature of the exercise is also testament to the strong defence relationship and cooperation among the three participating countries,” said RSAF Exercise Director for Exercise Cope Tiger 2025, Colonel Lee Yew Chern Benjamin.

The RSAF is participating in the exercise with 26 aircraft, 10 ground-based air defence systems, and more than 700 personnel.

This is the 31st edition of Exercise Cope Tiger, which has been underway since 1994.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the United States Marine Corps are presently also training together in the annual bilateral exercise, Exercise Valiant Mark.

More than 600 personnel from the 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards and 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade, and approximately 200 personnel from the Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) are participating in the exercises which will involve live-firing and heliborne training and culminate in a bilateral urban operations mission.