Mabalacat city: Philippine Air Force (PAF) soldiers and their counterparts from the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) officially launched the second phase of this year's Cope Thunder Philippines (CT PH 25-2) at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. This bilateral air exercise is scheduled to run from July 7 to 18, 2025, across various training locations in Northern Luzon, highlighting the strong alliance and defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United States.
According to Philippines News Agency, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo announced that the PAF will deploy 2,301 personnel and a diverse set of air assets for CT PH 25-2. These assets include FA-50PH fighter jets, A-29B 'Super Tucanos,' AW-109 helicopters, S-76A, and S-70i 'Black Hawk' helicopters. The opening ceremonies were led by PAF chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura and PACAF 421st Fighter Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Bryan Mussler.
The PACAF has committed 225 personnel and F-35 fighter aircraft to the exercise, enhancing its scope and interoperability. Participants will engage in subject matter expert exchanges and field training exercises at designated intensive military training areas throughout Northern Luzon. These engagements aim to enhance operational tactics, interoperability, and joint mission capabilities across multiple domains.
Col. Castillo emphasized that CT PH 25-2 represents a significant milestone in advancing joint interoperability and mutual defense readiness between the PAF and PACAF. It also contributes to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' modernization and capability development efforts, which are essential for maintaining regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region. The first iteration of Cope Thunder 2024, or CT PH 25-1, took place from April 7 to 16.
