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Foreword

RIMPAC 2004:
Demonstrating Shared Resolve for Regional Peace and Security

MALABAR 2004:
Enhancing Peace and Security in the Asia-Pacific Region

Happenings

Cooperative Cope Thunder 2004:
Sharpening Combat Air Skills
By Maj. Eric Hilliard, USAF; 1st. Lt. Chrystal Smith, USAF;
and TSgt. Theo McNamara, USAF

	Twelve countries, including 10 from the Asia-Pacific region, participated in the [U.S.] Pacific Air Forces’ largest exercise — Cooperative COPE THUNDER 2004 — in Alaska. Here, with fighter aircraft from India, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. in the background, Singapore F-16 and German GR-4 Tornado fighter aircraft taxi before taking off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, on an exercise mission. Photo by SSgt. Matthew Hannen, USAF
	An Indian Air Force GR-1 Jaguar fighter prepares to receive fuel from an Indian IL-78 refueling aircraft. Photo by SSgt. Matthew Hannen, USAF
	A Singapore F-16C fighter pilot adjusts his oxygen mask before a training mission. Photo by SSgt. Ricky A. Bloom, USAF
	A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-10 during an exercise event. Photo by SSgt. Matthew Hannen, USAF
	Japan Air Self-Defense maintenance personnel work on one of their F-15s at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Photo by SSgt. Dave Donovan, USAF
	Republic of Singapore Air Force personnel review their operating instructions during a preflight check at Eielson Air Force Base. Photo by SSgt. Ricky A. Bloom, USAF
	German Air Force pilots, Capt. Greg Berens and Capt. Jorg Lehman, prepare for a mission. Photo by SSgt. Matthew Hannen, USAF

The state of Alaska, home to the largest U.S. military overland and airspace training area — the Alaskan Range Complex — hosted COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 2004,the largest multinational air combat training exercise in the Pacific region. Pacific Air Forces, the air component command of the U.S. Pacific Command, sponsored the exercise.

More than 1,800 personnel from the air forces of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, and the United States participated in COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 2004 at Elmendorf and Eielson Air Force Bases. The July 2004 exercise enabled participating air force units to sharpen their air combat skills and exchange air operations tactics. The exercise also promotes closer relations among participating air forces and nations.

Participating Aircraft
During the two-week exercise, participants took advantage of the range's more than 60,000 square miles (96,600 square kilometers) of airspace and varied terrain to experience not only unfettered air operations, but also realistic combinations of air-ground operations and ground-to-air threat simulators. Pilots flew air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions, and combat support missions, including personnel recovery, simulating conditions pilots might face in real-world combat. Aircraft from participating air forces included the following:

• Canada: one C-130
• Germany: 14 GR-4 Tornado fighters
• India: six GR-1 Jaguar fighters, an IL-76 cargo plane, and two IL-78 refuelers
• Japan: six F-15J fighter aircraft and an E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
• Malaysia: one C-130
• Singapore: eight F-16 Fighting Falcons
• United Kingdom: nine GR-4 Tornado fighters and one E-C Sentry AWACS
• United States: eight F/A-18 Hornet fighters, 12 F-15C Eagle fighters, three KC-135 refuelers, three C-130s and one E-3 Sentry AWACS

The Royal Malaysian Air Force took part in the exercise for the first time, providing airlift support. Malaysian Air Force Lt. Col. Asri bin Baharin Khairil, who observed the exercise in 2003, saw the potential benefits of training with the U.S., and returned in 2004 with a team to participate in COPE THUNDER. “Training in Malaysia is accomplished; however, it is quite limited,” he said. “I knew that we could learn so much from America because our standards of operation are not so different. We are very grateful that we were allowed to come and enhance our skills.”

Participating Ground Forces
Ground Control Intercept (GCI) teams from Singapore and Australia provided air defense tracking and identified aircraft using radar. Man Portable Air Defense teams from India and Mongolia provided self-defense protection against enemy air attacks for air defense artillery or maneuvering units. Tactical Air Control Party teams from India, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh advised ground forces on aircraft movement and capabilities; coordinated and controlled aerospace operations, including close air support; and participated in battle-space planning.

Scenarios
All nations came with a list of objectives for the training cycle, and some had specific combat scenarios to enhance the training. While the exercise accommodated all players’ requirements, opportunities, in some cases, were limited. “Normally when you go to such a unique exercise as this, you want to have as many people as you can. You want everyone to have the experience,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Gustafson. “So many people want to play, but there is not enough time. The opportunity to participate for some nations is so infrequent that there is a conscious effort to get them the most experience.”

Participating air forces were divided into two combined, opposing teams. The teams flew mock air-to-air and air-to-ground combat and combat support missions using a variety of aircraft against a realistic set of threats that simulated wartime conditions pilots might face in real-world combat.

Each exercise event featured “Red” opposition forces, “Blue” offensive forces, and “White” forces that represented the neutral controlling agency. Red forces included air-to-air fighters and surface-to-air missile defense forces to simulate threats posed by hostile nations. The Red forces generally employed defensive counter-air tactics directed from GCI sites. U.S. Air Force range control technicians operated the range threat emitters — electronic devices that send out signals simulating antiaircraft artillery and surface-to-air missile launchers.

Because the exercise was very dynamic and the nations so diverse in their training requirements, all participants faced challenges to achieving overall goals and objectives. Exercise planners focused extensively on coordination and execution; however, communication was the largest hurdle because of the intensity of the training environment. “Communication is always the biggest key to success,” said Lt. Col. Gustafson. “Because there is such a great amount of information passed and so much coordination required between the different forces to achieve successful mission planning and execution, it is important that we communicate effectively.”

During the exercise, air force personnel from the United Kingdom and Germany participated in survival training with U.S. Navy personnel. The training involved survival methods should a pilot go down in harsh conditions, such as in Alaska.

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