Australian, Japanese and US F-35s flew together in the Guam-based Exercise Cope North 25. (Photo: RAAF)
Tri-national F-35s break new ground in Pacific exercise, but will cooperation continue?
Adding to the growing list of “training firsts” surrounding the F-35, aircraft from Japan, the US and Australia recently concluded Cope North 25, described as “the first in a series of trilateral exercises with fifth-generation air warfare capabilities and whole-of-force integration as its focus”.
The aircraft flew together for the first time during the 3-21 February event conducted at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
This analysis article originally appeared in February's Decisive Edge Military Training Newsletter.
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The US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the USMC, USN, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flew approximately 90 F-35As and F-35Bs during the exercise, with RAAF releases describing it as “a key milestone for trilateral air interoperability and beginning frequent trilateral F-35 activities between Australia, Japan and the United States”.
Additional participating aircraft included tanker-transports and airborne early warning and control platforms.
Established in 1978 as a quarterly bilateral effort held at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Cope North moved to Andersen in 1999 and has evolved into PACAF’s largest annual multilateral exercise, hosting multiple allied partners.
The JASDF characterised Cope North 25 as “the first reciprocal deployments of air assets by all three countries, which was [mentioned] both in the Australia-Japan-United States Trilateral Defence Minister’s Meeting in May 2024 and a November 2024 Joint Statement.”
“We train together and fight together,” said the JASDF’s Col Takeshi Okubo, flight group commander, 3rd Air Wing (Misawa). “And together we are an active deterrence to conflict.”
“When you have many different nations flying the same aircraft, it’s important to train together so that we learn small differences between how each nation employs, maintains and C2s [commands and controls] those airplanes,” added Col Charles Schuck, commander of PACAF’s 3rd Wing, (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska).
“We’ll never learn those differences without actually exercising together. And the reason that fifth-generation fighters [like the F-35] are so important is that they are the forward edge of our fighting force, especially in the Indo-Pacific, so it’s important to practice together with all the nations that fly them.”
His sentiments were echoed by the RAAF contingent commander, Grp Capt Darryl Porter. “Australia has participated in Exercise Cope North since 2011, and coming to Guam provides valuable training experience for aviators deploying into the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
“We can recreate challenging scenarios and mission objectives for what is already a highly skilled workforce, operating some of the world’s most capable aircraft and systems. This is key to ensuring our aviators are prepared to generate and deliver effective air power, and stand ready to contribute to the collective security of the Indo-Pacific.”
It remains to be seen whether this spirit of international cooperation will continue as the US reassesses its relationships with even long-standing allies such as Australia and Japan.
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