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.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
