‘Air Force drills helping PH, US deal with changes in Indo-Pacific’

PAMPANGA, Philippines — The war games between the air forces of the Philippines and the United States are helping both nations gear up for the “changing atmosphere” in the Indo-Pacific Region, a member of the United States Air Force (USAF) said on Thursday.

In an ambush interview during the holding of the drills’ first leg at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca,  USAF fighter pilot Captain Jonathan Phase Marshall said Cope Thunder has prepared them for the changes within the region over the past years. 

“I think the world has been changing ever since and with these changes I think the planners behind both air forces understand that our tactics, techniques, and procedures will evolve along with those changes in…technology,” Marshall said.  

“And I think we are prepared to deal with the changing atmosphere in the Info-Pacific as well,” he added. 

Aside from the Cope Thunder, the USAF pilot likewise noted that “Balikatan” or the “shoulder-to-shoulder” annual joint military exercises has also “helped evolve” their tactics, techniques, and procedures.  

Cope Thunder is covered by the Mutual Defense Board – Security Engagement Board Activities for calendar year 2024, which started on April 8 and will run until April 19. Its second leg is expected to occur this June. 

PAF said 478 of its personnel and 170 USAF personnel, along with FA-50PH fighter jets and F-16 aircraft, are included in the series of exercises.

The exercises are focused on “air and ground operations, as well as logistics and other mission support planning and execution.”