A 23rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress, currently deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam with the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, leads a formation of Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-2s from the 6th Squadron, Tsuiki Air Base, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska, and Navy EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-136 Carrier Air Wing Five, Atsugi, Japan over Guam Feb. 10 during Cope North 09-1. The Cope North exercise is one of the longest-running series of exercises in the Pacific theater. Since the first Cope North exercise in 1978, thousands of American and Japanese personnel have honed skills that are vital to maintaining a high level of readiness. This will be the tenth time the United States and Japan have held a Cope North exercise on Guam, and it will be the fourth time that the JASDF will use live ordnance. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)
A 23rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress, currently deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam with the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, leads a formation of Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-2s from the 6th Squadron, Tsuiki Air Base, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska, and Navy EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-136 Carrier Air Wing Five, Atsugi, Japan over Guam Feb. 10 during Cope North 09-1. Cope North 09-1 is the first iteration of a regularly scheduled joint and bilateral exercise and is part of the on-going series of exercises designed to enhance air operations in defense of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)
A 23rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress, currently deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam with the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, leads two Japan Air Self Defense Force F-2s, two Navy EA-6Bs, and two F-16 Fighting Falcon Aggressors, in a fomration flight over Guam during Cope North 09-1 Feb. 10. Cope North is an annual bilateral exercise between U.S. and Japanese forces held at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, designed to increase interoperability between the two forces in defense of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Whitney)