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 Mobilisation Assistant to the Commander of the Pacific Air Forces officiating at the Closing Ceremony of Exercise Cope Tiger 2015.

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 Treetod Sonjance, and Mobilisation Assistant to the Commander of the Pacific Air Forces Major General Kevin E. Pottinger.

The exercise, the 21st in the series, 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 9 to 11 December 2014, while the second phase was a flying training exercise conducted at Korat Air Base, Thailand, from 9 to 20 March 2015. This year's exercise involved 71 aircraft, 45 ground-based air defence systems, and about 2,000 personnel from the participating nations. In addition, the exercise participants took part in a two-day socio-civic programme, providing basic health and dental services to the local community in the vicinity of Korat Air Base and Chandy Range.

The RSAF Exercise Director for Exercise Cope Tiger 2015, Colonel Kevin Goh shared his views on the importance of the annual exercise. He said, "We value the opportunity to train alongside our counterparts from Thailand and the United States in the exercise. It allows us to execute air defence and strike operations to enhance our combat readiness and operational capabilities. The successful conduct of the exercise is testament to our strong defence relationship and interoperability between the three participating countries."

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 RSAF, RTARF and USAF aircraft flying out from Korat Air Base during the flying training exercise.