Cope India 2023

[slogen51]

F-15 participating Cope Thunder from 10th April.

If the article is true then where are eagles coming from ? MO from the desert after a six month deployment sounds unlikely. I don't think any 48FW jets departed Lakenheath last week so are there SJ Eagles in the area?

I did see a photo of an MO marked 391FS in formation with an Indian AF Flanker but that may have been a stock photo.


https://newsonair.com/2023/04/06/exerci ... -observer/

Enhancing military cooperation between the two nations, the Indian Air Force and US Air Force are going to hold air exercise ‘Cope India’. With Japan as the observer nation, the air exercise will take place from April 10 to 21, 2023 at the air force base in Kalaikunda, West Bengal.

In the upcoming exercise, the Indian Air Force will participate with its frontline fighters aircraft SU-30MKI, Rafale and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) among other elements. On the other hand, the US Air Force contingent will reportedly participate with its F-15 fighter jets

[Eagle130]

I first read this post last night and didn't have the log to hand but I have a feeling they will be SJ eagles. I have been lacking in posts on the coronets and deployments section as of late due to work commitments, but this past couple of weeks has seen a number of Coronet east and west (CW & CE) movements, as is expected for this time of year. I will get them typed up at some point but I believe that 10 (Possibly more) "SJ" coded eagles were taken to Kadena under CW452.

I don't have serial tie ups for the jets yet, but as a rough guide:
FIST61-65 and FIST71-75 have taken a few days and what appear to be some delays/challenges in getting the eagles from Seymour Johnson (KGSB) -> Japan, I am presuming Kadena (RODN), to replace the SP F-16s which have also departed recently for what I believe is a homeward journey.

3rd April 2023
FIST61-62 and FIST71-72 were filed from KGSB -> Fairchild (KSKA) but instead went to Travis (KSUU).

They dragged DORY11-15 and DORY21-25 from KGSB -> What might be Cheyenne airport (KCYS), but I'm not certain. Tankers split away pretty much overhead here so its my best guess.

I think this divert was due to WX at KSKA, and seemed to create a lot of issues for whoever plans/ organises these Coronets based on the ACARs messages I could see!

4th April 2023
FIST61-64 and FIST71-74 flew from KSUU -> Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (PHNL).

With DORY11-15 and 21-25 taking KCYS (?) -> PHNL.

6th April 2023
I have some gaps here, as one of the FIST tankers changed to a PETRO45 and operated on a different coronet (CW432) so this is blotchy but as far as I can tell:

FIST61-62 and FIST71-72 Routed PHNL-> PHNL.
FIST63-64 and FIST73-74 Routed PHNL -> Guam (PGUA).
FIST65 and FIST75 Routed PGUA -> PGUA.

This is where I have started to loose the trail but I think DORY11-15 + 21-25 ended up in RODN, but they may well have gone to PGUA and are staging for a move to either India for the upcoming ex or to RODN for deployment.

Tanker tie ups:
FIST61 - KC-46A Showed as 19-46064.
FIST62 - KC-135 Showed as 59-1466.
FIST63 - KC-135 Showed as 58-0089.
FIST64 - KC-135 Showed as 59-1463.
FIST65 - KC-135 Showed as 62-3542.

FIST71 - KC-46A Showed as 18-46047.
FIST72 - KC-135 Showed as 57-1428.
FIST73 - KC-135 Showed as 63-8000.
FIST74 - KC-135 Showed as 62-3500 - This one turned into PETRO45.
FIST75 - KC-135 Showed as 58-0035.


Please feel free to correct any mistakes I may have made, there's big gaps in this log but this should hopefully give a rough idea of how the eagles got there, if they will indeed be the ones used!

[Rch80056]

Kadena release here about the SJ,
https://www.kadena.af.mil/News/Article/ ... e-pacific/

The same pattern seems to occur that did with CW 411/412/413/414 starting with the SJ on CW452, might be nowt but seemed to stand out to me.

[slogen51]

Thanks

I heard ( I guess we all have as I am usually last to know ) that AV vipers will transit the UK to Japan on Tuesday

[Eagle130]

In this case you are not the last as I hadn't heard that until now!

I guess it would make sense to follow that pattern but we shall see..!

[Rch80056]

Thanks

I heard ( I guess we all have as I am usually last to know ) that AV vipers will transit the UK to Japan on Tuesday

The AV is news to me, if they are moving I would be surprised if they do go all the way to Japan but may live to regret that statement when/if the code shows!

[slogen51]

It did take me by surprise when I heard Japan as the destination - the USAF must be a bit stretched to want to send USAFE assets to the Pacific theatre

Anyway just something I heard - I don't unfortunately have any inside knowledge so could be wrong but there does seem to be a lot of these RCH 0nn callsigns knocking about. - RCH 061 (58-0103 ) just departed Mildenhall heading east on Maastricht 135.960 for example

[Rch80056]

RCH061 is MO CE006, there is also (going by memory) RCH07# (split), RCH09#, RCH08#, RUMMY2# all to do with the SP heading west rtb Spang CW412 from RODN. The new pattern I was referring to from CW452 I was looking at something going PAC area in a few months time, issue working them out is the Kadena deployments are not set in much history yet so struggling a little with working out the true pattern.
I just see strange things in weird numbers lol

[Sentinal]

RCH, 07?/08?/09?. KC10s
Apparently due into Mildenhall tomorrow.

AV, F16s to Japan VIA Mildenhall on Tuesday.
Buzzard, Claw Venom, Sabre,Callsigns.

[slogen51]

Cheers

It seems RCH 0xx going to Souda are for the MO

Apparently the AV go west with KC-46 but they are not here yet but it would seem next week will be busy for photographers but not that interesting for humble number crunchers although saying that, the MO might have some nose art which I do like

[Sentinal]

Have heard 3 are due on the 12th.

[slogen51]

Magic

It seems like thread creep but I started the thread originally as I thought incorrectly that the MO might go home via India !

[Sentinal]

RCH, 07?/08?/09?. KC10s
Apparently due into Mildenhall tomorrow.

AV, F16s to Japan VIA Mildenhall on Tuesday.
Buzzard, Claw Venom, Sabre,Callsigns.

RCHs going into Spangdahlem from Al UDAID.(posted in RCH section).

[BOLLO]

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