Andersen AFB, Guam—Cope North is putting partnership into practice as a real demonstration of the Asia-Pacific pivot. Japan is a long-time player in Cope North. This year, the Japan Air Self Defense Force brought F-15MJs, F-2 fighters, and E-2C Hawkeye command and control aircraft. Joining Cope North for the first time is the Royal Australian Air Force. RAAF F/A-18F “Rhinos,” along with the air arm’s new Wedgetail radar surveillance airplane and RAAF C-130s, are on the ramp here. “The face-to-face time is invaluable,” said Wing Cmdr. Murray Jones, commanding officer of RAAF’s No. 1 Squadron. Air Force and RAAF units are also working hand-in-hand in a humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief scenario at an expeditionary location near Guam’s Northwest Field. The work pairs the two air arms in operations ranging from expeditionary communications, airfield opening, medical response, airdrops, and construction. Guam is “the only sovereign US soil in this part of the world,” noted Col. Randy Kaufman, commander of Andersen’s 36th Operations Group, which is hosting Cope North. That makes it “a good place for all three” nations to come together, he said.
The Air Force is placing Air Combat Command in charge of teaching combat tactics to fighter and remotely-piloted aircraft units, according to a May 12 announcement. Beginning this summer, the service will reassign the formal training units for the F-35, F-16, and MQ-9 from Air Education and Training Command to…