|
Text: |
Chakrit Samithinan |
|
Pictures: |
Chakrit Samithinan & Saichol Krai-amat |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Cope Tiger 2024 took place at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, the home of RTAF Wing 1, from 18th to 29th March. It was proudly announced as the 30th anniversary edition of this trilateral Air Force Exercise which is comprised of air force contingents from the USA, Singapore and host Thailand.
For those readers less familiar with the history of Cope Tiger, here a short brief. Cope Tiger is the name given to annual exercise between the air forces of USA, Singapore and Thailand starting in the year 1995 after fusing two earlier operations, i.e. Air ThaiSing (Thailand and Singapore) and Cope Thunder (USA and Thailand) which were held until 1991 at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. Due to volcanic activity close to Clark Air Base and a problematic political situation, the decision was made in 1991 to cease all operations at Clark effective immediately. In 1993, the Thai Government approved a plan for a trilateral air force exercise between USA, Singapore and Thailand to be held on an annual basis at RTAF Korat Air Base. Cope Tiger consequently took place every year since then with the 30th edition having taken place this year.
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Just in time for the 30th anniversary of Cope Tiger, the USA decided to bring for the first time the fifth generation F-35A fighter jet to the exercise. 8 aircrafts from Eielson Air Base in Alaska made the trip to Thailand. Supporting the US contingent were 10 F-16C aircrafts from the 8th Fighter Wing of the 35th Fighter Squadron, also known as Wolf Pack and stationed at Kundan Air Base in South Korea as well as two KC-135 Tankers. Singapore sent 27 aircrafts to Korat consisting of F-15SG and F-16C fighter jets as well as a Gulfstream GE350AEW unit and a H225M helicopter. The host Thailand delegated various aircrafts to the exercise, among them JAS39 Gripen, F-16A & B, F-5TH Tigris, Alpha Jets and C-130H Hercules. This year, Cope Tiger involved altogether 77 aircrafts and more than 2,000 personnel from across the three nations.
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The objective of Cope Tiger is cooperation of three friendly air forces in the field of air combat, air to ground action and intelligence gathering. In simulating air war scenarios, the skills of the participating pilots can be honed in a realistic environment. A further aim of the exercise is to enhance air combat capabilities and strengthen military cooperation between the participating nations. From an American point of view, these exercises are also important to network and integrate with other partners in the quest to keep the Indo-Pacific region open and free.
In addition to these training activities, personnel from the three air forces have taken part in joint socio-civic programs to engage local communities and schools in the vicinity of Korat Air Base and Chandy Range at Chaibadan.
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 149 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 149 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 142 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 149 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 149 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 149 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 149 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Eagle 142 Sqn RSAF(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Aerospatiale AS332M Super Puma 126 Sqn RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16C Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16D Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
General Dynamics F-16D Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
General Dynamics F-16D Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
General Dynamics F-16D Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
General Dynamics F-16D Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16D Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16D Falcon RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Gulfstream G550AEW Eitam 111 Sqn RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Gulfstream G550AEW Eitam 111 Sqn RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Gulfstream G550AEW Eitam 111 Sqn RSAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Royal Thai Air Force
On 19th March 2024, the Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces, Gen. Songwit Nunpkadee and the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul invited the local media representatives to witness the formal opening ceremony of Cope Tiger 2024. The press was given the opportunity to take pictures of jets taking off and landing during the morning’s exercises and thereafter had the opportunity to hear the three Exercise Directors from Thailand, Singapore and USA inform the media about their views and impressions on this year’s exercises. They also granted short interviews to the local media representatives.
Dornier Alpha Jet TH 231 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Dornier Alpha Jet TH 231 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Dornier Alpha Jet TH 231 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Dornier Alpha Jet TH 231 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris and Dornier Alpha Jet TH RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris 211 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris 211 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris 211 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris 211 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris 211 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris 211 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab JAS 39 Grippen 701 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab JAS 39 Grippen 701 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab JAS 39 Grippen 701 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab JAS 39 Grippen 701 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab 340 702 Sqn. RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules 601 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules 601 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
General Dynamics F-16B Faöcon 103 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B Faöcon 103 Sqn RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
United States Air Force
A word about the weather conditions at Korat Air Base during the opening ceremony. There was quite a strong haze prevalent during that morning which affected the quality of the pictures taken. Only the photos taken at short range were unaffected by the haze.
The closing ceremony of another successful Cope Tiger exercise took place at Korat Air Base on 29th March 2024 and saw the incoming Chief of the Singapore Air Force, Brigadier-General Kevin Fan, the C-in-C of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul and the Commander of the United States Pacific Air Force, General Kevin B. Schneider in attendance.
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker 92 ARW USAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker 92 ARW USAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16C Falcon 35 FS USAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16C Falcon 35 FS USAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16C Falcon 35 FS USAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16C Falcon 35 FS USAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
