The Air Force has decided to rename and recast the Cope Thunder exercise run by Pacific Air Forces in Alaska to provide “complimentary training on the same level as the current Red Flag exercise run by Air Combat Command out of Nellis AFB, Nev.,” according to an Air Force announcement Tuesday. USAF expects to develop “standardized and equal training capabilities.” There was no indication whether the new Red Flag Alaska—the first of which takes place next month—will be an annual or quarterly event. The last Cope Thunder took place last October.
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…