Filipino pilots get closer look at F-16 jets in ‘Cope Thunder’ exercise

Filipino pilots had a glimpse of the F-16 fighter jets, which the Philippines could purchase, during the kick-off of the joint military exercises between Manila and Washington at Clark Air Base, Pampanga. 

According to Chino Gaston’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, the week-long “Cope Thunder” exercises features the Philippine Air Force’s four FA-50 Golden Eagle and the 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons fighter jets of the United States Air Force.

“We will validate our tactics and procedures on how we operate,” said Major Mantis De Villa, an FA-50 pilot. 

“We're gonna be integrating with the FA-50s here doing a variety of mission sets mostly focused on  air to air basic training including dogfighting as well as tactical intercepts of how to safely and efficiently go on an intercept,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Plocinski, one of the F-16 pilots. 

The Philippine government is planning to procure the FA-16 jets for $5.58 billion. 

Meanwhile, some US servicemen of Filipino origins expressed how they were proud to take part in the annual military exercise. 

“Napakasarap ng pakiramdam na maisuot ang uniform namin sa bansang kinalakihan namin,” said Captain Arsenio Mesina III of the 613th Air Operations Coordination Element. 

(It feels good to wear our uniform in the country where we grew up.) 

“Mapalakas at mapatibay natin yung samahan ng US at ng Pilipinas na naitaguyod natin dati pa,” said Captain Tim Nolan of the 613th Air Operations Coordination Element.

(We are hoping to strengthen the cooperation between the US and the Philippines that we already established long before.) 

Also participating in the exercises as observers are pilots from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan. 

The PAF decided to allow its FA-50s to participate in the “Cope Thunder” exercises,  the fleet being grounded after one of the South Korean multi-role jets crashed in Mindanao last month during a combat operation. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News