US and Philippines strengthen military ties in Cope Thunder exercise

Cope Thunder 23-2, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise, will take place from July 2 to 21. The exercise will focus on expeditionary operations and will include approximately 225 service members from the United States and the Philippines. The exercise will be held at Clark Air Base, Mactan Air Base, and other airfields around the Philippines.

Cope Thunder is a bilateral exercise that aims to improve the interoperability of the United States and the Philippines through fighter training. The exercise will allow the two countries to swap tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Cope Thunder was first held in 1976 in the Philippines. However, in 1992, it was moved to Eielson Air Force Base and overtime renamed Red Flag Alaska. This will mark the first time Cope Thunder has been held in the Philippines since 1990.

The exercise is a valuable opportunity for the United States and the Philippines to improve their military cooperation and exchange helpful tactics and will feature C-130 Hercules, A-10 Warthogs, and F-22 Raptors, taken from multiple participating units for the exercise.

The aircraft on display include, but are not limited to those, and showcased a Philippine Air Force FA-50 performing a touch-and-go on July 5. On the same day, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the Hawaiian Raptors Squadron, which is made up of the 19th and 199th Fighter Squadrons, landed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines to participate in exercise Cope Thunder 23-2.

The overall goal of this exercise is to heighten our countries’ shared interests and strengthen the two nation’s military bonds. By working together and providing well-trained and equipped troops, the nation dissuades aggressors by demonstrating the military’s commitment to working together to ensure regional stability.

Georgina DiNardo is an editorial fellow for Military Times and Defense News and a recent graduate of American University, specializing in journalism, psychology, and photography in Washington, D.C.

由太平洋空军主办的“雷霆应对23-2”演习将于7月2日至21日举行。此次演习将重点演练远征作战，约有225名来自美国和菲律宾的军人参加。演习将在克拉克空军基地、麦克坦空军基地以及菲律宾境内的其他机场举行。

“雷霆应对”是一项旨在通过战斗机训练提高美国和菲律宾互操作性的双边演习。此次演习将使两国能够交流战术、技术和程序。

“雷霆应对”军演于1976年首次在菲律宾举行。然而，1992年，军演移至艾尔森空军基地，并逐渐更名为“阿拉斯加红旗军演”。这将是自​​1990年以来，“雷霆应对”军演首次在菲律宾举行。

此次演习为美国和菲律宾提供了一个宝贵的机会，以加强军事合作并交流有益的战术。演习将出动来自多个参演部队的 C-130 大力神运输机、A-10 疣猪攻击机和 F-22 猛禽战斗机。

展出的飞机包括但不限于以上这些，并于7月5日展示了一架菲律宾空军的FA-50战斗机进行触地复飞。同一天，由第19和第199战斗机中队组成的美国空军夏威夷猛禽中队的一架F-22猛禽战斗机降落在菲律宾克拉克空军基地，参加“雷霆应对23-2”演习。

此次演习的总体目标是增进两国共同利益，加强两国军事联系。通过携手合作，提供训练有素、装备精良的部队，两国展现了军队致力于共同维护地区稳定的决心，从而震慑侵略者。

乔治娜·迪纳尔多是《军事时报》和《防务新闻》的编辑助理，也是美国大学的应届毕业生，主修新闻学、心理学和摄影，目前在华盛顿特区就读。