Asia-Pacific Defense FORUM

Winter 1999-2000 Photos

International Fleet Review and 50th Anniversary
of the Republic of Korea Navy

Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy personnel and academy midshipmen, dressed in ancient and modern uniforms, celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ROK Navy and host an International Fleet Review at Chinhae, home of the ROK Navy Headquarters and Naval Academy.

U.S. and other foreign warships conduct open houses for visitors to the celebration.

The ROK President reviews the troops. In the background is a reconstruction of a 16th century Korean "Turtle Boat." This is history's earliest ironclad boat employed by Admiral Yi Sun Shin to defeat late 16th century Japanese invasion fleets.

ROK Navy Fast patrol Boats pass in review.

Korean-designed and built, ROK Navy Ulsan class frigates pass in review.

Cooperative Cope Thunder 99-4

U.S. Pacific Air Force's 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.

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

A Yokota Air Base, Japan-based US Air Force C-130 takes off during COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 99-44.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Japan-U.S. Field Training Exercise NORTH WIND 99

PFC. Hideki Yoshino of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force prepares to fire an 81mm mortar round during bilateral training.

U.S. and Japanese soldiers at the opening ceremony for NORTH WIND 99.

U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force participants coordinate plans during the bilateral ground defense training exercise NORTH WIND 99 held at Camp Makomanai, Hokkaido.

U.S. soldiers conduct a live-fire exercise during bilateral training at Camp Makomanai, Hokkaido, Japan.

U.S. troops get acclimated to combat operations under cold weather conditions.

.....

.....