U.S., Australia, Japan militaries prepare for exercise Cope North 2013

Release Number: 010113

1/7/2013 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  -- The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and the Royal Australian Air Force are preparing to conduct exercise Cope North 2013 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, scheduled for Feb. 4 through 15.

The exercise is the latest in a long standing, multilateral exercise designed to enhance each countries' air operations. Additionally, the exercise includes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training objectives for the USAF, JASDF and RAAF.

The U.S. will have approximately 1,000 participants, the JASDF will have approximately 450 participants, and the RAAF will have approximately 300 participants.

The first week will consist of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training, along with air combat training and air-to-ground weapons training. During the second part of the exercise, the focus will shift to dissimilar air combat tactics, strike mission training, and large force employment training. Also, JASDF squadrons will conduct surface attack training on the Farallon de Medinilla Range.

Since the first Cope North exercise in 1978 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, thousands of American and Japanese airmen have honed skills that are vital to maintaining a high level of readiness.

The RAAF will be attending CN13 for the second time, and their participation will further strengthen regional partner interoperability.

Additionally, the Republic of Korea Air Force will send representatives for the first time to observe the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief portion of the training.

This is the 84th Cope North. Exercise Cope North was held as often as four times a year, but is now held annually.