Cope Thunder, first flown in 1976, provided air-to-air, air-to-ground, and combat support missions against a realistic set of real and simulated threats, say PACAF officials. “This Cope Thunder was our Air Expeditionary force spin-up for any tasking the Air Force needs us to support,” said Lt. Col. Dean Anderson, commander of the 18th Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska. During the two-week employment phase of the exercise, Anderson noted, every conceivable combat threat is thrown at the aircrews—many of them young pilots getting seasoned “without getting shot at.” For those who need more reality, some aircrews do get to practice getting rescued. Oh, yes, Blue won.
Watchdog Says Military Can Make Cyber Ops More Efficient
Sept. 17, 2025
The Government Accountability Office called for paring down the military's sprawling cyber enterprise in a recent report, amid renewed discussion about standing up a separate cyber force.
