Fighter jets from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), US Air Force (USAF), and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) flew alongside each other for a trilateral exercise held at Exercise Cope North in Guam.
Cope North is a multilateral US Pacific Air Forces-sponsored field training exercise conducted every year at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
For the first time in the history of Exercise Cope North, Australian, United States and Japanese F-35s flew alongside each other over Guam, demonstrating their commitment to the development of their trilateral relationship.
The three countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2024, with a common goal of keeping peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
United in flight! ✈💪🤝
For the first time in Exercise Cope North history, Australian, United States & Japanese F-35s fly together over Guam, showcasing their commitment to their trilateral relationship. 🇦🇺 🇺🇸 🇯🇵
📸 | USAF TSgt Caleb Roland#AusAirForce #ExCopeNorth25 pic.twitter.com/A6VRl6Kku8
— Royal Australian Air Force (@AusAirForce) February 11, 2025
“This is the first F-35 large force engagement between Australia, Japan and the United States that will exercise all three nations fifth [generation] air warfare capabilities and whole-of-force integration in complex yet realistic scenarios,” Exercise Director Group Captain Daryl Porter said in a statement.
“Exercise Cope North 25 is a great opportunity to integrate with USAF, US Marine Corps and JASDF F-35s to ensure we are aligned with the latest fifth generation tactics and for our respective maintenance teams to learn from each other to enhance maintenance practices,” Commanding Officer 75 Squadron Wing Commander Andrew Nilson said.
Exercise Cope North 25 commenced on February 3, 2025 and will run until February 21, 2025. It will include 275 aviators operating out of Guam in a variety of roles. In addition to mission planning and flying interoperability, the exercise will also provide opportunities for cultural and ground-based skill role integration and development, including intelligence, security forces, and logistics.
