F-16 jets ng U.S. at FA-50 fighter jets ng PAF, lumahok sa Cope Thunder-Philippines 2024 exercises
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00:00 The fighter jets of the Philippines and America fought in different drills
00:05 in their continuation of their training under the COPE Thunder exercises
00:10 that were conducted in Pampanga.
00:11 That's what Patrick De Jesus has to say.
00:13 From Basa Air Base in Pampanga,
00:23 the F-A-50 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force took off.
00:27 And the F-16 multi-role fighter aircraft of the U.S. Air Force.
00:34 This was the continuation of the COPE Thunder Philippines 2024 exercise on Wednesday.
00:40 Four F-A-50 fighter jets of the Philippine Air Force
00:44 and four F-16 jets of the U.S. Air Force
00:48 took off from Basa Air Base in Florida, Blanca, Pampanga
00:53 as part of the COPE Thunder exercises today.
00:58 The Philippine and U.S. aircrafts fought in different flight operations.
01:05 There was also a basic fighting maneuver
01:08 where the aircrafts flew until the tip of the wings of the wings were crossed.
01:14 Last year, the COPE Thunder was conducted twice
01:18 as part of the bilateral exercise between the PAF and the U.S. Air Force.
01:23 This is the first reiteration this year,
01:26 which started on April 8 and will last until April 19.
01:31 The PAF and U.S. Air Force have 700 pilots
01:35 and the exercise was approved by the Mutual Defense Board of the United States and the Philippines.
01:41 For this week, we have air-to-air exercises up until next week.
01:45 It will be composed of basic fighter maneuvers to air combat maneuvers
01:49 up until tactical intercept, and then after that, after which,
01:53 we'll be having some limited air-to-surface if everything will push through in the schedule.
02:01 As a pilot, I really enjoy coming together under one roof
02:06 and listening to the stories and the experiences and the lessons learned from my friends in the PAF
02:11 and hearing what they have to say and what they've learned throughout their years of experience
02:15 flying missions in their own country.
02:17 In June, the COPE Thunder was again targeted.
02:20 The PAF also agreed to the pitch-black exercises
02:24 that will be conducted in Australia from July to August
02:28 with many other air forces from different countries.
02:32 Therefore, the COPE Thunder is a big help in their preparation.
02:36 In the previous years of the pitch-black exercises in Australia,
02:41 normally we would just send observers.
02:44 This time, we are planning to send fighter aircraft.
02:49 So, we will have a large force deployment.
02:51 So, one of the objectives of COPE Thunder is to prepare the Philippine Air Force
02:56 through the help of our U.S. counterparts.
02:58 They will teach us how to conduct a large force deployment.
03:02 Meanwhile, the PAF has new assets that are possible to arrive this year
03:07 including Black Hawk helicopters and C-130 planes.
03:11 From Pampanga, Patrick de Azuz for Pambansan TV in Bagong, Philippines.