The United States Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force will conduct exercise Cope Taufan 2023 in Malaysia, Sept. 18-29, 2023. The exercise aims to improve U.S. and Malaysian readiness whilst demonstrating U.S. capability to project forces strategically with an emphasis on interoperability, security cooperation and capacity building.

Exercise Cope Taufan is a PACAF-sponsored bilateral exercise with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and will take place at Malaysian Air Force bases TUDM Butterworth and TUDM Subang, Malaysia. The exercise will prioritize training in air-to-air and air delivery capabilities, as well as place a high emphasis on flight support operations in a live environment.

Approximately 220 U.S. personnel will participate in the exercise alongside service members from the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The exercise is expected to involve RMAF’s SU 30MKM, HAWK, F/A18D, C130H, A400, and EC725 aircraft training with USAF C-130s from the Delaware Air National Guards’ 166th Airlift Wing, New Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware and F-16s from the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Pacific Air Forces has conducted exercises with the Royal Malaysian Air Force since the early 1980s. By participating in exercises with military forces from partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. demonstrates its commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.