Exercise Cougar South is currently underway at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) New Orleans, Louisiana. The major exercise runs from mid-March through April 24. Several Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) tactical fighter squadrons and support units are participating. Training will cover the full spectrum of tactical employment of the CF-18 Hornet and involves personnel from 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec; 4 Wing, Cold Lake, Alberta; 8 Wing, Trenton, Ontario; and 17 Wing, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Scenario-based missions include air combat tactics; close air support training; air-to-air refueling training; and employment of precision-guided munitions.
This training is considered essential, especially during periods when the weather can limit training in Canada. The training is high-temp and large-scale and will increase the RCAF’s fighter force readiness and maintain tactical fighter interoperability between the RCAF, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps.