Cope North 11-1 comes to a close

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - -- U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force completed an annual two-week bilateral flying training exercise Feb. 25, that was designed to increase interoperability between the two nations.

Cope North 11-1 is a Pacific Air Force sponsored exercise planned and executed by 13th Air Force, Detachment 1, with the goal of increasing combat readiness and interoperability between the U.S. and JASDF forces. This is the 11th time the exercise has been conducted at Andersen, and the 6th time the JASDF has dropped live bombs at Farralon de Medinilla Range in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.

"Cope North provides participating U.S. and Japan forces opportunities to gain valuable training and practice unit deployment," said Col. Marc Reese, U.S. Air Force exercise director. "Additionally, the bilateral aspect of this training event highlights the close relationship our two nations maintain and showcases the important benefits of close integration and seamless execution."

More than 1,000 U.S. and JASDF members, and more than 57 aircraft, to include JASDF F-2's, E-2C Hawkeyes and F-15J Eagles, participated in the exercise.

"The U.S. Air Force and JASDF conduct this bilateral field training exercise to increase combat readiness and interoperability, concentrating on coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures between U.S. forces and the JASDF," said Col. Eiichiro Fukazawa, JASDF exercise director. "This type of training enhances both nations' abilities to work together and increases their preparedness to support contingencies."

The exercise was broken into two phases.

Phase One, which ran from Feb. 13 through 19, consisted of strike missions and air combat tactics training.

Since there is no live bombing range in Japan, JASDF pilots do not get many opportunities to train using live weapons.

"Because Japan is so narrow, we do not have the ability to drop live bombs during exercises," Colonel Fukazawa said. "During Cope North, our pilots get to develop a confidence in their weapon systems and gain experience that is invaluable. This exercise gives us the chance to have training we would not be able to conduct under different circumstances."

The second phase of the exercise ran from Feb. 20 through 25. Dissimilar air combat tactics and large-force employment training were the focus of the second week.

The DACT portion consisted of simulated air-to-air warfare between red and blue forces, or aggressor and friendly forces, respectively.

After DACT, aircrews participated in the large-force exercise, which culminated all of the information they learned throughout the exercise. In the LFE scenario, blue forces, or friendly forces, conducted both bomber escort missions and interception of a capable red force.

While the exercise offers invaluable experience to JASDF and U.S. pilots alike, it wouldn't be possible without the support of the local community.

"There are many aspects to Guam that make this an ideal location," Colonel Reese said. "From the live bomb ranges and favorable weather to the positive relationships with the people of Guam, Andersen provides an experience like no other. It really replicates the types of environments that we would fight in during conflict."

Colonel Fukazawa expressed his appreciation to the 36th Wing and members of the local community.

"Overall, this has been a very successful exercise," he said. "Our forces gained experience and we were met with tremendous hospitality. I would like to thank General Doucette and the entire 36th Wing team."

This exercise does not reflect any real world events.