U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Indonesia -- Service members and aircraft from the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing and the Indonesian Air Force will participate in Cope West 2023, a bilateral, tactical fighter exercise at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base, Pekanbaru, Indonesia, June 12-23.

Approximately 100 U.S. service members will train alongside Indonesian Air Force personnel in the field training exercise. Six U.S. Air Force F-16s and 7 Indonesian Air Force aircraft are participating in this year’s exercise.

U.S. and Indonesian participants will exercise tactical fighter capabilities, evaluate proficiency, identify future training, and enhance capabilities integral to a variety of bilateral missions.

“Thank you to everyone involved in the planning process,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Broyles, 35th Fighter Squadron commander, at the June 12 opening ceremony. “It took a lot of work to get here today. We thank you for the opportunity we have to grow together, both in tactics and friendship.”

Pacific Air Forces, in coordination with other components, Allies and partners, provides U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with continuous unrivaled air, space, and cyberspace capabilities to uphold the rules-based international order and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Cope West is a recurring exercise that first took place in 1989. This year marks the 10th time Cope West will be hosted in Indonesia.