US Air Force units are participating in the latest iteration of Exercise COBRA WARRIOR, running from 16 September to 5 October 2024, in the United Kingdom.
Exercise Cobra Warrior is run twice a year and is the largest air exercise run by the Royal Air Force.
The exercise is designed to train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations.
The exercise features US F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base in Italy, F-35A Lightning IIs from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in England, and KC-135 Stratotankers from the 100th Air Refuelling Wing, based at RAF Mildenhall, England.
COBRA WARRIOR, held twice a year, is a live-fly field training exercise hosted by the UK as part of its fighter weapons school graduation.
This iteration focuses on high-end warfighting in contested, degraded, and limited operating environments.
Gen. James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, emphasised the importance of such exercises, stating, “Exercises like COBRA WARRIOR are invaluable to advancing integration between the US, Allies, and partners. COBRA WARRIOR brings together some of the world’s best fighter pilots to train side-by-side and further hone operational tactics.”
Any British aircraft participating in this RAF exercise?!
Yes, Both of them are.
I notice this morning that the sorties had to be non AAR as there were issues getting any tankers up. The RCAFs C-130 tanker hasn’t taken part at all following a bird strike before the exercise started. And while it is meant to be twice a year, CW24-1 was cancelled with no reason made public.
But it’s about time we saw an increase in these exercises. Not just a couple a year. We are on the brink of war but appear to be sticking our fingers in our ears and singing tra la la.
Putin is spouting more nuclear threats this evening. Sooner or later he’s going to back himself into a corner and will have to fling one at someone.
He won’t need to go nuclear to retaliate
We need to increase the military and also excercise
War footing is required