RCAF to Participate for the First Time in Multinational Exercise with UK
Image: An RCAF CF-18 Hornet on Operation REASSURANCE Air Task Force - Romania on December 1 2022 Credit: Avery Philpott
Aircraft and personnel from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will participate for the first time in Exercise COBRA WARRIOR 23-2, a Royal Air Force hosted multinational live-fly exercise held at Royal Air Force (RAF) station Waddington in the United Kingdom, from September 4 to 22, 2023.
The RCAF’s participation in Ex COBRA WARRIOR 23-2 includes seven CF-188 Hornets from 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, one CC-150T Polaris from 437 Transport Squadron and more than 140 RCAF personnel.
Exercise COBRA WARRIOR provides an invaluable opportunity for international allies and partners to train together in developing operational tactics in the air. Australia, as well as our NATO allies; the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy will be participating in this multinational exercise.
The exercise will further develop the RCAF’s abilities to operate in high intensity, large force, tactical air war-fighting operations, while enhancing its proven capability to operate in European airspace.
“Ensuring the readiness of the Royal Canadian Air Force to counter air threats is one of our most important responsibilities. Exercises like COBRA WARRIOR provide highly valuable training not only for our members, but also those of our allies and partners, to practice working together in a wide variety of tactical combat scenarios that they could face on real world operations.” Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander Royal Canadian Air Force
“Recognizing the current world security environment, this training is of particular importance for the Royal Canadian Air Force as we strive to safeguard North American airspace. Exercise COBRA WARRIOR will strengthen the interoperability between the participants and build on strong relationships with participating allied and partner-nation Air Forces.” Major-General Iain Huddleston, Commander 1 Canadian Air Division
ADDITIONAL INFO
• The RCAF will be taking part in developing interoperability with allies and partners by exercising composite air operations in a contested, degraded and operationally limited environment.
• The Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft will be operating from Royal Air Force Station Waddington and Royal Air Force Station Lossiemouth.
• Four RCAF Air battle managers will be taking part in the exercise from RAF Boulmer. RCAF Air battle managers will provide Command and Control capabilities to enable simulated air combat.
• Exercise COBRA WARRIOR is the largest exercise organized by the Royal Air Force and is a biannual training exercise to provide participants with high intensity large force tactical training.
• Exercise COBRA WARRIOR brings different partner nation platforms together, providing crews an opportunity to learn how to integrate and enhance interoperability. Participating nations also fulfill leadership roles and are involved in mission planning
