Lightning strikes in Guam

Hosted in the Indo-Pacific island of Guam, the last several iterations of Exercise Cope North have traditionally been an opportunity for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to demonstrate its humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities.

CAPTION: A RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft departs during Exercise Cope North 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

The 2025 instalment has eight of 75 Squadron’s F-35A Lightning II fast jets calling Anderson Air Force Base home for the month of February.

Flying alongside them are their key enablers, 33 Squadron’s KC-30 Multi Role Tanker Transport and 2 Squadron’s E-7A Wedgetail.

The RAAF join the US Air Force (USAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in Guam, marking the first trilateral F-35 exercise conducted under the memorandum of intent signed by the three countries in July 2024.

The inaugural exercise aims to provide a platform for developing integration, understanding and building all three countries’ fifth-generation air warfare capabilities.

Exercise Director Group Captain Daryl Porter said the exercise was the first in a journey towards greater integration in the Indo-Pacific.

“This is the first F-35 large force engagement between Australian, Japan and the United States that will exercise all three nations fifth [generation] air warfare capabilities and whole-of-force integration in complex yet realistic scenarios,” Group Captain Porter said.

CAPTION: RAAF and US Air Force aircraft technicians prepare for an F-35A Lightning II aircraft departure.

“The most exciting part of this exercise is that it allows the Royal Australian Air Force to demonstrate its readiness to deliver highly effective air power with enhanced lethality and survivability, and how this is further enhanced when operating with our key allies and partners.

“Since we arrived, it has been tremendously pleasing to observe our aviators from all three countries seamlessly transition to a fully integrated workforce that has consistently demonstrated unprecedented interoperability across a number of roles, skillsets and capabilities.”

Based out of Tindal in the Northern Territory, 75 Squadron will have the chance to work alongside their JASDF and USAF F-35 counterparts for the first time at Exercise Cope North.

Having previously hosted the USAF’s F-22 Raptors and integrated with the JASDF on Exercise Pitch Black 24, Commanding Officer 75 Squadron Wing Commander Andrew Nilson said he was excited by the opportunity Exercise Cope North would provide the squadron.

“Exercise Cope North 25 is a great opportunity to integrate with USAF, US Marine Corps and JASDF F-35s to ensure we are aligned with the latest fifth generation tactics and for our respective maintenance teams to learn from each other to enhance maintenance practices,” he said.

Exercise Cope North 25 will be held from February 3 to 21 and will include 275 aviators operating out of Guam in a variety of roles. In addition to mission planning and flying interoperability, the exercise will also provide opportunities for cultural and ground-based skill role integration and development, including intelligence security forces, logistics.

CAPTION: A Royal Australian Air Force pilot from No 75 Squadron, prepares during Exercise Cope North 25, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

.

.


.


.