F-15s from Kadena AB, Japan, scrimmaged against Royal Malaysian Air Force fighters in a friendly duel for Exercise Cope Taufan, hosted at RMAF Butterworth in northwest Malaysia. Squaring off against Malaysian F-18s, Mig-29s, and Hawk 208s, USAF pilots enjoyed a “tremendous opportunity to improve tactics . . . at a deployed base while enhancing our partnership,” said Lt. Gen. Stanley Kresge, 13th Air Force commander. “These exercises also give our airmen a chance to get involved with unique cultures and work with airmen from different countries,” added 1st Lt. Riley Hestermann, in charge of Kadena’s 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. Pacific Air Forces has sponsored a live-flight exercise with the RMAF biennially since the 1980s, according to the command. This year F-15s from Kadena’s 67th Fighter Squadron participated in last week’s exercise along with more than 100 pilots and support personnel. (Butterworth report by MSgt. Matt Summers)
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.