THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) and U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) officially commenced Cope Thunder Philippines 2025 (CT PH 25-1) on April 7, 2025, at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
The opening ceremony was led by Lieutenant General Arthur M Cordura PAF, Commanding General of the PAF, and Major General Christopher J Sheppard PACAF, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces.
Scheduled from April 7 to 18, 2025, CT PH 25-1 will be held across key training locations in Northern Luzon, including Basa Air Base and Clark Air Base in Pampanga and Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Tarlac.
For this CT PH iteration, the PAF is deploying 729 personnel and various types of aircraft including FA-50PH, A-29B Super Tucano, S-76A and S70i Blackhawk helicopters. PACAF on the other hand sent a total of 250 personnel and 12 F-16 fighter jets. The exercise will highlight field training exercises on aircraft maneuvers and tactics.
For the first time, the PAF is hosting an International Observer Program (IOP) as part of the exercise, participated in by representatives from the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Indonesian Air Force.
The exercise will also feature Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) covering a wide range of domains including fighter and close air support operations, helicopter operations, cybersecurity, communications, aircraft maintenance, logistics, security, and medical services.
CT PH 25-1 marks a key milestone in enhancing joint operational readiness and deepening defense ties between the Philippines and the United States, contributing to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization and capability development efforts.
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from the Philippine Army Facebook Page.
