USAF, USN and JASDF to Conduct Exercise Cope North 10-1

Units from the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are scheduled to conduct exercise Cope North 10-1 at Andersen AFB, Feb. 7-19.Cope North 10-1 is the tenth USAF-JASDF field training exercise conducted at Andersen AFB, and is part of an on-going series of exercises designed to provide a venue for bilateral cooperation and to improve capabilities for the defense of Japan.

U.S. aircraft participating in the exercise include: the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; the B-52 Stratofortress from the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, currently deployed to Andersen AFB; and the U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler from VAQ-136 Carrier Air Wing Five, Atsugi, Japan. JASDF aircraft will include the F-2 support fighter aircraft from the 6th Squadron, Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, and the E-2C Hawkeye from the 601st Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan.

Cope North is one of the longest-running series of exercises in the Pacific theater. Since the first Cope North exercise in 1978, thousands of American and Japanese Airmen have honed skills that are vital to maintaining a high level of readiness. A media day is scheduled for Feb. 10. Media interested in covering the exercise should contact the 36th Wing Public Affairs office at 366-4202.

Posted in: Fighter jet,Japan,USA