HONING CAPABILITIES AND BUILDING BONDS AT EX COPE TIGER 2010

Complex, large-scale air missions involving as many as 40 aircraft at one go - that's the kind of exciting opportunity which Exercise Cope Tiger offers pilots like Lieutenant (LTA) Devdutt Sasidharan.

A first-time participant, he is one of more than 1,000 personnel from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF), who took part in this year's exercise.

Held from 1 to 12 Mar, the flying and training phase of Ex Cope Tiger 2010 saw 80 aircraft and 36 ground-based air defence systems deployed by all three countries in Korat, Thailand. The initial planning phase of the exercise was conducted last December at Paya Lebar Airbase in Singapore.

Said the F16 pilot from the RSAF's 145 Squadron: "Not only do you have a large number of aircraft, but also different kinds of aircraft - helicopters, transport, fighters - all in one airspace doing different missions but in the same big picture."

"For example, we might have some aircraft engaging a target that we need to destroy, and others protecting these aircraft," he explained. "There's also a simulated scenario where we have a pilot who's been shot down, and we need to go and find him, so that there's where the helicopters come in and play their part."

"Everything is very dynamic; sometimes new targets can also pop up, so your mission may suddenly change. This realistic training hones our skills for actual operations, where you have to be prepared to do all these things."

Agreeing that Ex Cope Tiger has been a positive learning experience, F15-C pilot Major (MAJ) Scott Rowe from the USAF added: "My squadron has been here several times, but it's the first time for a lot of our guys, including myself, so operating in a coalition environment in a different culture has been really a unique experience for us."

"Just trying to learn the best ways to integrate in a combined mission - how they like to operate, how we like to operate - taking those learning points and building a safe mission that we can go out and execute has been a great challenge and a lot of learning on my part personally," he told cyberpioneer.

"I've been very impressed with the RSAF. It's been very easy to sit down and figure out how we're going to employ together. They've been very professional and I would have expected nothing less."

Besides enhancing the capabilities and interoperability of the participating forces, this series of annual trilateral exercises has also forged strong ties among the officers and men.

Commenting on the close rapport between the three nations, the RSAF's exercise director, Colonel (COL) Lim Tuang Liang, Commander of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command, said: "This is the 16th instalment of Cope Tiger and over the years we've continued to expand our cooperation and grow our capabilities together."

"Even as we complete this exercise and go on our separate ways, more often than not, we come together again, whether it's in another exercise or an actual operation. And it's with these extremely good relations we've developed over the years, that we continue to be able to leverage on each other's strengths and work together well in any events or operations that require it."

"I've worked with the Singapore air force for 24 years; they're very disciplined, and very good to work with," said Group Captain Chaiyapruk Didyasarin, the RTAF Exercise Director.

"In the past, the exercise directors didn't really get to know each other, they just did their job. Nowadays, we're all very open, and give each other suggestions. This is the way to improve and allow the exercise to move to a higher level in the future."

Personnel from all three forces also participated in a joint socio-civic programme, donating books, stationery supplies and sports equipment to a few schools, as well as providing basic health and dental care to the local community in Korat.

Sharing his experiences from the three-day programme was Captain (Dr) (NS) Timothy Cho from 1 Medical Squadron, who was won over by the locals' friendly demeanour and warm smiles.

"There's a genuine sense of appreciation from the patients I've seen, and that's one of those things that makes a doctor's day worthwhile," he said.

"As an NSman doctor, I had the opportunity to take part in this exercise as part of the team that provides helicopter evacuation and medical assistance in a scenario where a pilot has been shot down in enemy territory."

CPT (Dr) (NS) Cho added: "This is something that I think most of my peers don't get a chance to do, so it has exposed me to things that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to see or do, such as flying in the helicopter, acquiring the skills needed to tend to a down pilot, and gaining an insight into the operations of the RSAF."

The closing ceremony of Ex COPE TIGER 2010 on 12 Mar was officiated by Singapore's Chief of Air Force, Brigadier-General Ng Chee Meng; Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong; and the Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces, General Gary North.

12 Mar 10 - Singapore, Thailand and US Participate in Trilateral Air Exercise