Next leg of US, PH air force drills focus on large deployment of airmen

Philippine Air Force’s FA-50 and US Air Force’s B-52H bomber aircraft fly over the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone on Feb 19, 2024 (Monday), 90 nautical miles west of Candon, Ilocos Sur; and 50 nautical miles northwest of Lubang, Mindoro. FILE PHOTO / PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE

MANILA, Philippines — The next leg of the drills between the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and its counterparts in the United States will focus on large-force deployment of airmen.

PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo this will be the expected highlight of the second iteration of this year’s Cope Thunder drills from June 17 to 28.

“The focus on this exercise is the large force deployment,” Castillo said in a press conference on Wednesday, noting that this will also be in preparation for the Philippines’ participation in the upcoming multilateral drills in Australia next month.

Castillo, in a statement sent to reporters on Thursday, said an estimated 900 PAF personnel and 20 to 25 US Pacific Air Forces personnel will participate for the subject matter expertise exchanges, which will mostly occur in Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga and Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Castillo said no aircraft and kinetic drills will be held for this iteration.

After this drill, the PAF will send six FA-50 fighter jets and 125 personnel in Australia’s Exercise Pitch Black.