Philippines, US conduct joint air drills

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) jointly launched the second iteration of this year's Cope Thunder Philippines 2025, the PAF said Monday on Facebook.

The drills began at Clark Air Base in Pampanga province, with an opening ceremony led by Lieutenant General Arthur M. Cordura of the Philippine Air Force and Lieutenant Colonel Bryan E. Mussler of the US Pacific Air Forces.

Running from July 7-18, the bilateral air exercise is taking place across Northern Luzon, highlighting the strong defense ties between the Philippines and the US.

This round sees the PAF deploying 2,301 personnel and various aircraft, including FA-50PH jets, A-29B Super Tucanos and several helicopter models.

PACAF is contributing 225 personnel and F-35 fighters to boost the exercise’s scale and joint capabilities.

Participants will also engage in Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and Field Training Exercises at key military sites, focusing on tactics, interoperability and joint operations.

The PAF noted that the exercise marks a key step in enhancing defense readiness and cooperation between the two sides, supporting the Philippines' military modernization and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The first iteration of Cope Thunder 2024 took place from April 8-19.

Under a mutual defense treaty, the Philippines is the US’s oldest military ally in the Asia-Pacific region, where American forces have access to Philippine military bases.