Closing Ceremony of COPE TIGER 2024 Training at Wing 1, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

01 April 2024

Types of aircraft participated in Cope Tiger 2024 (all photos: RTAF)

Friday, March 29, 2024, Air Chief Marshal Phanpakdee Pattanakul, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, along with Major General Kelvin Fan, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Republic of Singapore, and General Kevin Schneider, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Air Force, Pacific Region. 

Participated in presiding over the closing ceremony of the COPE TIGER 2024 exercise at Wing 1, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Cope Tiger training (Multi-Lateral Exercise Cope Tiger) can be considered as a mixed aerial exercise which has the largest air power integration in Southeast Asia. Air power is brought in from 3 countries: Thailand, the Republic of Singapore, and the United States joined training.

Training models have been developed to suit the current combat situation, by assuming a virtual situation, both control and command training in combat tactics between different types of fighter aircraft. Air attack training against ground targets that are resisted by ground anti-aircraft unit weapons, tactical intelligence training using unmanned aerial vehicles and the support of various support units.

For the purpose of this training to develop the ability to use mixed aircraft. and increase the skills of training participants Including strategy implementation Especially planning to work together systematically. It also strengthens relations between friendly countries participating in the exercise.

This time, the Cope Tiger 2024 exercise marks its 30th anniversary, with Commander Anon Jarusombat, Deputy Director of the Office of Operations and Training, Department of Air Force Operations. He is the director of the Cope Tiger 2024 Combined Training Directorate, Thai Division.

Colonel Sebastian Chai is the director of Cope Tiger 2024 Joint Exercise Directorate, Republic of Singapore; and Colonel Michael G. McCarthy, Director of Cope Tiger 2024 Joint Exercise Directorate, United States Pacific Region.

 

In this training, in addition to personnel and equipment from the Air Force, There are also personnel from the Army, Navy, and officials from Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Company Limited (AEROTHAI) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), Ministry of Transport Participate in training.

In addition, activities were organized to build good relationships between training participants in all 3 countries and people in the training area, including organizing community relations activities,  including providing medical services by a team of doctors from all 3 countries to examine and treat general diseases, dental examination service, eye examination services, hair cutting services, and medical students from Suranaree University of Technology are also available,  come help in taking patient history, including language translation as well.

There is also a radio-controlled airplane display. Musical performance by the Royal Thai Air Force Band including language and cultural exchange activities between students and training participants from the Singapore Air Force and the United States Air Force Pacific Region, with traditional sports activities. which is a symbol that expresses Thai culture At Ban Krok Duean Ha School, Khok Kruat Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District Nakhon Ratchasima Province on March 21, 2024, and Ban Noen Chan School, Dong Marum Subdistrict, Khok Samrong District Lopburi Province on March 26, 2024.

Over the past 30 years, COPE TIGER has proven to be an essential part of strengthening readiness and interoperability among three countries: Thailand, the Republic of Singapore, and the United States in cooperation, trust, and mutual understanding. This adds to strong defense ties and plays an important role in regional peace and security.

Air to Air Refueling (AAR)

To increase the flight operating range to fly longer and farther. Without having to land at an airport, the Cope Tiger exercise is an opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of cross-training with friendly countries.

The Air Force has trained pilots to perform aerial refueling from Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) aircraft of the Republic of Singapore Air Force and KC-135 aircraft of the Washington Air National Guard of the United States.

It is training to become familiar and skilled in refueling in the air. which is one feature of a high-performance fighter aircraft To achieve maximum value for the aircraft stationed in the Royal Thai Air Force.

(RTAF)