U.S. Pacific Air Forces' largest exercise -- COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 99 -- took place primarily at Eielson Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska. An Eielson AFB-based F-16 takes off for exercise maneuvers.

The state of Alaska, home to the U.S.'s largest military overland and airspace training area -- the Alaskan Range Complex -- hosted the multilateral air combat training exercise COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 99-4. COPE THUNDER is sponsored by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the air component command of the Commander in Chief, US Pacific Command.

The Alaskan Range Complex is the US's largest military, overland training airspace. It encompasses 60,000 square miles (96,600 sq. km.) and overlays several ground operations environments, allowing realistic joint training.

Participants from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) took part in the two-week training at Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force Bases (AFBs). From Japan, the JASDF deployed a stinger missile team from Chitose Air Base, and three C-130s from the 1st Tactical Airlift Wing, Komaki Air Base. The Singapore contingent involved the deployment of a C-130 from the 122 Squadron, Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, six RSAF F-16s from the RSAF element training in the combined Singapore-U.S. 428th Fighter Squadron at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, a Rapier Air Defense Artillery platoon, and a Tactical Air Control Party. An RTAF C-130 aircraft and crew from the 601 Squadron deployed all the way from Thailand for the combined exercise. A pararescueman from the Canadian Armed Forces also took part in the exercise.

A US Air Force munitions specialist uploads a bomb on an F-16.

From the US Air Force (USAF), F-15s, F-16s, A-10s, KC-135s, C-130 and HC-130 aircraft, an E-3, an AWACS aircraft and HH-60 helicopters arrived in Alaska from USAF and Air National Guard units in Alaska and from as far away as Japan and Hawaii. In addition to the fighter, airlift and refueling crews, COPE THUNDER involved US Army Special Forces and Army CH-47 helicopters, US Navy SEAL Team personnel and Navy HH-60H helicopters, and USAF pararescue and -Combat Control Team personnel.

An F-16C pilot from the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing gives the "thumbs up" prior to an exercise mission.

In addition to direct participants, Japan and Thailand provided additional observers to determine how they may further benefit from expanded participation in future exercises. Lt. Col. Shigeyuki Tachikawa, a JASDF UH-60 search and rescue pilot said, "We're very interested in the coordination of aircraft and special operations forces. I hope, in the future, we [search and rescue] can participate in COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER."

A Yokota Air Base, Japan-based US Air Force C-130 takes off during COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 99-4.

Other observers at the exercise came from Australia, Brunei, China, and Malaysia. Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander Mark Binskin was there to compare how things were done between similar air forces in similar exercises. "We're looking primarily at command and control issues. We're focusing on tasking issues at the operational level and hoping to take back information on the actual running of the exercise."

Republic of Singapore Air Force Cpl. Tan Chun Chong locks onto a target with a Mistral missile during exercise antiaircraft training.

Besides its two official observers, China sent 43 senior officers from its Air Force Command College for a two-day observation of COPE THUNDER operations. Though not direct participants, the official observers from the six countries had the opportunity to play a passive role in the exercise when they took part in the noncombatant evacuation operation.

An A-10 Thunderbolt from the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska, prepares to launch on an exercise mission.

Approximately 1,400 personnel from the four air forces took advantage of the range's 60,000 square miles (96,600 sq. km) of airspace and varied terrain to experience not only unfettered air operations, but realistic combinations of air-ground operations, and highly realistic ground-to-air threat simulators. Four COPE THUNDER exercises are held each year, and the number of participants is growing.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16C from the combined Singapore-U.S. combat training squadron from Cannon AFB, New Mexico -- the 428th Fighter Squadron -- taxis during COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 99.