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RSAF A-4 Skyhawk aircraft are loaded and ready to launch at Korat RTAFB during COPE TIGER 2004.
Photo Courtesy of the Republic of Singapore Ministry of Defense. |
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“COPE TIGER helps demonstrate our commitment to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” said USAF Col. George Daniels, the exercise director. “The exercise will improve readiness and interoperability, as well as help maintain solid relationships with nations in the region as we train side by side with their air forces.”
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An RTAF Search and Rescue team pose for a photo following a search and rescue exercise.
Photo by TSgt. Jonathan F. Doti, USAF |
The first phase of the two-phase exercise occurred at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, in December 2003. There, aircrews from the three countries participated in the planning and exercising of an air operations center during a seminar/command post exercise. The second phase was the flying training exercise, which took place at the Korat Royal Thai Air Base in Korat, Thailand. This phase promoted closer relations and sharpened air combat skills and interoperability among the three forces.
Sharpening Air Combat Skills
Air combat training included dissimilar basic fighter maneuver training, dissimilar air combat tactics training, close-air support training, and large-force employment training. Aircrews flew both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training missions. The forces also exercised airborne and land-based control of mission packages, air refueling, and search-and-rescue procedures. Further, they used common operational procedures at the unit level, such as mission planning and in-flight interoperability.
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