News Releases
Singapore, Thailand and US Conclude Trilateral Air Exercise
22 March 2013
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Singapore's Chief of Air Force (Designate) Brigadier-General Hoo Cher Mou (left), Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force and Commander of the Pacific Air Forces officiating at the Closing Ceremony of Exercise Cope Tiger 2013.
Exercise Cope Tiger, a trilateral air exercise conducted by Singapore, Thailand and the United States, came to a close today at Korat Air Base, Thailand. The closing ceremony was officiated by Singapore's Chief of Air Force (Designate), Brigadier-General Hoo Cher Mou; Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong; and Commander of the Pacific Air Forces, General Herbert J. Carlisle.
The exercise, the 19th in its series, was conducted in two phases. The first phase was a command post exercise, held at the Multinational Operations and Exercises Centre in Changi Naval Base, Singapore, from 11 to 13 December 2012, while the second phase was a flying training exercise, conducted at Korat Air Base from 11 to 22 March 2013. This year's exercise saw the deployment of about 80 aircraft, 36 ground-based air defence systems, and more than 2,000 personnel from the participating nations. The Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) ground-based air defence system also participated in Exercise Cope Tiger for the first time. The exercise participants also provided basic health and dental services to the local community in the vicinity of Korat Air Base and Chandy Range as part of a two-day joint socio-civic programme.
RSAF Air Director for Exercise Cope Tiger 2013, Colonel (COL) Benedict Ang, shared his views about the importance of this trilateral air exercise. "We are pleased to train and operate alongside our counterparts from Thailand and the United States in Exercise Cope Tiger. More importantly, the friendship that has developed through this trilateral exercise serves to enhance the defence relationship and interoperability of the three participating nations," said COL Ang.
Conducted since 1994, Exercise Cope Tiger seeks to enhance professionalism and interoperability among the participating forces, and promote closer rapport and mutual understanding among their personnel.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force's SPYDER ground-based air defence system is participating in Exercise Cope Tiger for the first time.