Lightning strikes thrice in trilateral exercise

For the first time, the RAAF, United States Air Force (USAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) have jointly exercised trilateral fifth-generation air warfare capabilities.

CAPTION: Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilot Captain Nakanishi, United States Air Force pilot Lieutenant Mike Watson and Royal Australian Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Ryan Turner during Exercise Cope North 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos: by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

On Exercise Cope North 25, they enhanced whole-of-force integration in complex and realistic scenarios.

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.

Multiple visits and tours of each country’s refuelling and command and control aircraft were also highly integrated.

CAPTION: US Air Force Staff Sergeant Rory Ignacio, Royal Australian Air Force Corporal Jason Grant and Japan Air Self-Defense Airman First Class Aso Masahito during security force integration at Exercise Cope North.

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.

Cope North Lead Planner Lieutenant Colonel David Overstreet explained that the exercise 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,” Lieutenant Colonel Overstreet 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.”

CAPTION: Australian aircraft technician Leading Aircraftman Jack Gorrie and Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft technician Airman Second Class Kaneko Shigeto with US Air Force pilot Lieutenant Colonel Mike Loringer after an F-35A Lightning II flight.

With interoperability and full integration being the main goals of the exercise, 75 Squadron prioritised involving USAF and JASDF members in their F-35A Lightning II operations.

Pivotal examples included involving USAF armament technicians in arming RAAF F-35s with high explosives. RAAF and JASDF aircraft technicians also performed post-flight maintenance checks on USAF aircraft.

Commanding Officer 75 Squadron Wing Commander Andrew Nilson said practising these aspects of integrations was significant.

“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.”

CAPTION: Japan Air Self-Defense Force members tour a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail during Exercise Cope North.

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