AUS: Royal Australian Air Force arrives for Exercise Cope Guam in North

Seven F/A-18A Hornets, an E-7A Wedgetail, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, and C-130J Hercules with 230 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel Cope North Exercise Have commenced at 2013 Guam Andersen Air Force Base in Guam today.

The tri-lateral air defense exercise allows the aircrew to Enhance Their tactical skills and joint operational capability Alongside military aircraft from the United States Air Force (USAF) and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

Cope North Guam 2013 is the first time RAAF's KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport HAS exercised outside of Australia, and will be Conducted up to 15 February 2013.

The C-130J Hercules from RAAF Base Richmond and Combat Support staff will be concentrating Their efforts in a concurrent exercise on Humanitarian Assistance and disaster relief.


Commander of the Australian Contingent for the exercise, Group Captain Robert Chipman, Said the exercise Will Provide Excellent Opportunities for staff to integrate with RAAF joined task force to learn how other countries operate.

"In the mixed operational environment que le RAAF deploy in, this training will be invaluable and there will be significant Many Lessons Learnt from our participation in this exercise," GPCAPT Chipman said.

"Cope North will allow the aircrew to economic development of an appreciation of the capabilities and Strengths of the different aircraft type Which is valuable training for Air Combat and Surveillance and Response Group staff who may be required to operate in a coalition environment in the future.

"For the members Participating in the Humanitarian Assistance and disaster relief exercise this year Gives the opportunity to staff be skilled at working with Coalition Forces Deployed in environment. Without thesis exercises, staff will not get this vital understanding Until They are Deployed in real time. "

This is the second time the RAAF HAS Participated in Cope North Guam, a bi-annual exercise for USAF and JASDF historically That started in 1978.

The international aircraft comprised of the USAF's F-16 Fighting Falcons, B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 Eagles, E-3 Sentry, C-130 Hercules and KC-135, and JASDF's F-15J Eagles, F-2 Support Fighter Aircraft , C-130 Hercules, KC-767 Air refuel and E-2C Hawkeye.