PACAF Airmen combat-train with Thailand, Singapore

  • Published
  • By Capt. Renee H. Lee
  • Cope Tiger Public Affairs
KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR BASE, Thailand (AFPN) --  Aircraft from Pacific Air Forces began flying combat sorties here Feb. 1 alongside its ally nations Thailand and Singapore, in support of Exercise Cope Tiger 2008. 

The PACAF aircraft and those from the Royal Thai air force and the Republic of Singapore air force are participating in the four-day large force employment training. 

"The main focus of the LFE is air-to-air combat roles with secondary missions of air-to-ground," said Lt. Col. Larry Germann, the "live fly" cell director for Cope Tiger. "The LFE encompasses 140 sorties a day, morning and afternoon, ranging in close-air-support, air-to-air, air refueling, and air mobility." 

Participating U.S. aircraft here include six A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, 10 F/A-18 Hornets, two E-3 Sentry (AWACS), and one KC-130 Hercules belonging to the Marines. At Udon Royal Thai Air Base, U.S. aircraft include two C-130 Hercules, two C-17 Globemaster IIIs and a KC-135 Stratotanker to tank up the AWACS and the A-10 Thunderbolt IIs. 

In the scenarios, the multilateral teams are faced with a fictitious aggressor. 

"The primary goal is to defend our friendly nations from aggressive nations," Colonel Germann said. "The LFE gives us an opportunity to go face-to-face not only with the Marines but also with the Singaporeans and the Thais. 

"We share tactics as well and are able to go over debriefings and share all the experiences we had in the air." 

The first day of the LFE involved 40 jets from the three countries, one helicopter and six mobility aircraft. 

"It's a great chance to work with our Thai and Singaporean counterparts while expanding the role of air superiority in a joint environment," said Senior Airman Brian Barrentine, an intelligence analyst deployed from the 15th Operations Support Squadron, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. 

"I'm very impressed with the coordination and execution of the ATO involving weapons systems from the three countries in just a few hours," he said. 

The LFE runs through Feb. 4.

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