2025 war games between US, PH Air Force set for April – PAF

Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo. —File photo by Ryan Leagogo | INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The annual war games between the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and its counterpart in the United States (US) will commence in April, according to spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo.

Castillo said Cope Thunder Philippines is a bilateral exercise sponsored by US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) dubbed “Cope Thunder Philippines 25-1.” It will be held for almost two weeks, from April 7 to 18, this year.

“The first iteration of this exercise will take place from April 7 to 18, 2025, while the second iteration will be scheduled in June,” Castillo disclosed.

“This CTPH 25-1 will be conducted within Northern Luzon to sustain and develop the security relationship and promote interoperability of our forces in the conduct of air and ground operations,” she added.

READ: After ‘Balikatan’ comes ‘Cope Thunder’ revival

The PAF has yet to provide other details regarding the upcoming exercise, but it previously said Cope Thunder would feature joint and combined sea, air, and ground exercises involving the Philippine and the US air forces.

The first-ever iteration of Cope Thunder since its return was held in 2023. The exercise started in the Philippines in 1976 and went on until 1990.

Cope Thunder was discontinued after the US military left Clark Field and Subic Bay in 1991 due to damage from Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in June of that year and also after the Philippine Senate voted against extending the lease on US military facilities in the country.