Air force personnel from Australia, Japan and the United States validated their interoperability, readiness and mutual support during COPE NORTH 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
COPE NORTH, in its 45th year, took place in February 2025 and focused on air operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief drills. More than 2,000 personnel from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the U.S. Air Force, including 274 aviators, worked together to enhance their collective response capabilities. The drills served as a platform for combined air tactics, techniques and procedures, ensuring participating nations can operate effectively in real-world scenarios. The exercise also provided the opportunity to test new technology.
As tensions in the Indo-Pacific region increase, COPE NORTH serves as a deterrent against potential adversaries. “We train together and fight together,” JASDF Col. Takeshi Okubo, flight group commander, 3rd Air Wing, told participants. “And together, we are an active deterrence to conflict.”
The Indo-Pacific’s security landscape has become increasingly complex, with challenges ranging from natural disasters to geopolitical tensions. COPE NORTH exemplifies the U.S. commitment to working alongside its allies to address these challenges. “Exercise COPE NORTH will be the showcase for the true integration of fifth-gen capability,” said RAAF Capt. Darryl Porter, Australian Task Force commander.