Singapore, Thailand and US Conclude Trilateral Air Exercise

Singapore's Chief of Air Force Major-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 2014.

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, Major-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. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual exercise.

The exercise was conducted in two phases. The first phase was a command post exercise, held at the Multinational Operations and Exercise Centre in Changi Naval Base, Singapore, from 10 to 12 Dec 2013, while the second phase was a flying training exercise conducted at Korat Air Base, Thailand, from 10 to 21 Mar 2014. This year’s exercise involved 76 aircraft, 42 ground-based air defence systems, and about 2,000 personnel from the participating nations.

The exercise allowed the participants to execute air defence and strike operations to enhance their combat readiness and operational capabilities. In addition, the exercise participants took part in a two-day socio-civic programme providing basic health and dental services to the community in the vicinity of Korat Air Base and Chandy Range.

Highlighting the significance of this trilateral exercise, Colonel Benedict Ang, the RSAF Exercise Director for Exercise Cope Tiger 2014, said, "We value the opportunity to train alongside our counterparts from Thailand and the United States in the exercise. It hones our combat skills, enhances our interoperability, and allows us to forge closer cooperation and stronger friendship among the participants."Conducted since 1994, Exercise Cope Tiger seeks to enhance professionalism and interoperability among the participating forces, and foster closer rapport and mutual understanding among their personnel.

The G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft and the F-15SG are part of assets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force participating in Exercise Cope Tiger 2014.