Cope North 2025 Sharpens Trilateral F-35 Interoperability

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U.S. Air Force Capt. Nolan Malloy, KC-135 Stratotanker pilot, assigned to the 465th Aerial Refueling Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, examines his left flank prior to conducting aerial refueling with aircraft over the U.S. Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, Feb. 10, 2025, as part of exercise Cope North 2025. KC-135 pilots are highly trained aviators, who serve a critical role in providing fuel to fixed-wing aircraft engaging in realistic combat training and exchanging shared tactics, techniques and procedures to better integrate trilateral defense capabilities and enhance interoperability in support of regional security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

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A Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A Lightning II banks to its right after aerial refueling over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility, Feb. 10, 2025, as part of exercise Cope North 2025. Pacific Air Forces, alongside our Joint and multinational partners routinely exercise and train at various locations, demonstrating our collective ability to deploy airpower throughout the Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Patrick Carlin, boom operator assigned to the 465th Aerial Refueling Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, completes a preflight checklist prior to a mission supporting exercise Cope North 2025, Feb. 10, 2025 over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. Boom operators are tasked with aerial refueling duties, as well as monitoring the aircraft and aiding the pilots. These Airmen are critical in providing fuel to aircraft participating in the realistic combat training conducted during CN25. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

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A Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A Lightning II prepares to make contact with a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 465th Aerial Refueling Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as part of exercise Cope North 2025, Feb. 10, 2025 over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. The F-35A provides next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability to the realistic combat training and scenarios in CN25. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Patrick Carlin, boom operator, assigned to the 465th Aerial Refueling Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, prepares to make contact with a Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A Lightning II during aerial refueling as part of exercise Cope North 2025, Feb. 10, 2025 over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. Boom operators are tasked with aerial refueling duties, as well as monitoring the aircraft and aiding the pilots. These Airmen are critical in providing fuel to aircraft participating in the realistic combat training conducted during CN25. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

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Trilateral partners from the Japan Air Self Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and U.S. Air Force fly together in exercise Cope North 2025, conducting air re-fueling integration training with F-35A Lightning II’s and KC-135 Stratotankers. Cope North enhances U.S. relationships and interoperability with our regional Allies and partners by fostering the exchange of information and refining shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to better integrate trilateral defense capabilities and enhance interoperability in support of regional security. This exercise provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces into joint, coalition and trilateral training from simulated forward operating bases, and practice realistic combat training which is essential to the success of air and space operations.

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