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.
Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.