US Hosts Pacific War Games With Australia & Japan Aimed At Countering Russia, China Attack
The United States military has kicked off joint war games with Australian and Japan on the Western Pacific island of Guam which will specifically focus on countering a theoretical future aerial attack from Russia or China.
The joint exercises, dubbed ‘Cope North 2021’ began last Wednesday and are scheduled to run all the way to February 19. Crucially the exercises will included F-35A joint strike fighters, marking the first time the advanced stealth jets are deployed to Andersen Air Force Base at Guam.
“Exercise Cope North 21 aims to provide an opportunity for the forces to hone their combined air tactics while enhancing support to the Indo-Pacific region,” according to a US military statement. “Australia is participating for the 11th time in the US Pacific Air Forces’ largest multilateral exercise.”
“China and Russia can increasingly hold overseas US bases at risk. To adapt, the air force must evolve from its dependence on well-established airfields or risk building an operational edge,” Brigadier General Jeremy Sloane, commander of the 36th Wing at Andersen, said at a press briefing for military reporters.
For the first time F-35A stealth fighters will take part in Cope North exercises…
Alaskan⚡️Airpower at Cope North 21.
F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 356th Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska take part in Exercise Cope North 21 at Anderson AFB Guam, Feb. 6, 2021 (📸Jonathan Valdes Montijo) pic.twitter.com/b954p1hlfF
— Air Power (@MIL_STD) February 8, 2021
Essentially the exercises will focus on preventing a hostile major power from coordinating any surprise attack that might “wipe out” US air power with missile attacks.
It comes as relations between China and Australia are at their lowest point in years over the ratcheting trade dispute which has seen Beijing block Aussie commodities exports, squeezing key Australian industries given China remains its largest export destination.
Australian commander Nathan Christie described in a statement on Exercise Cope North 21: “More than 2,000 military personnel and approximately 95 aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are scheduled to participate in this exercise.”
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/08/2021 – 17:20
US Hosts Pacific War Games With Australia & Japan Aimed At Countering Russia, China Attack
The United States military has kicked off joint war games with Australian and Japan on the Western Pacific island of Guam which will specifically focus on countering a theoretical future aerial attack from Russia or China.
The joint exercises, dubbed ‘Cope North 2021’ began last Wednesday and are scheduled to run all the way to February 19. Crucially the exercises will included F-35A joint strike fighters, marking the first time the advanced stealth jets are deployed to Andersen Air Force Base at Guam.
US military handout photo showing last year’s joint drills.
“Exercise Cope North 21 aims to provide an opportunity for the forces to hone their combined air tactics while enhancing support to the Indo-Pacific region,” according to a US military statement. “Australia is participating for the 11th time in the US Pacific Air Forces’ largest multilateral exercise.”
“China and Russia can increasingly hold overseas US bases at risk. To adapt, the air force must evolve from its dependence on well-established airfields or risk building an operational edge,” Brigadier General Jeremy Sloane, commander of the 36th Wing at Andersen, said at a press briefing for military reporters.
For the first time F-35A stealth fighters will take part in Cope North exercises…
Alaskan⚡️Airpower at Cope North 21.
F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 356th Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska take part in Exercise Cope North 21 at Anderson AFB Guam, Feb. 6, 2021 (📸Jonathan Valdes Montijo) pic.twitter.com/b954p1hlfF
— Air Power (@MIL_STD) February 8, 2021
Essentially the exercises will focus on preventing a hostile major power from coordinating any surprise attack that might “wipe out” US air power with missile attacks.
It comes as relations between China and Australia are at their lowest point in years over the ratcheting trade dispute which has seen Beijing block Aussie commodities exports, squeezing key Australian industries given China remains its largest export destination.
Australian commander Nathan Christie described in a statement on Exercise Cope North 21: “More than 2,000 military personnel and approximately 95 aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are scheduled to participate in this exercise.”
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/08/2021 – 17:20
Read More
