Three C-130 Hercules from Yokota AB, Japan, flew to Indonesia last week for Cope West, a humanitarian airlift exercise with the Indonesian air force at Halim Air Base. Practicing with, and in some cases competing against, an Indonesian C-130, the 374th Airlift Wing’s C-130 crews solidified airdrop and disaster-relief mobility tactics with their hosts in order to cement favorable relations in the region, said Yokota officials in a June 28 release. “We are honored that the Indonesian government invited us to be a part of this exercise,” said Capt. John Chrampanis, 374th AW mission commander. In addition to “exchanging knowledge and experiences,” it was “also a little bit of a friendly competition,” added Indonesian air force Capt. Dion Aridito. He added, “I think the competition helps everyone improve their skills.” Roughly 80 Yokota airmen and 75 Indonesians participated in the exercise, which ran from June 25 to June 29. (Halim report by MSgt. Victoria Meyer)
While U.S. defense officials have spent much of the past decade warning that China is the nation’s pacing threat and its People’s Liberation Army represents an urgent threat in the Indo-Pacific, several defense researchers are skeptical that the PLA has the human capital, the structural ability, or the political appetite…