Announced on August 29, 2023, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will partake for the very first time in Exercise COBRA WARRIOR 23-2. This multinational live-fly exercise is overseen by the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the Royal Air Force station Waddington in the United Kingdom. The exercise will take place from September 4 to September 22, 2023.
“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,” said Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander Royal Canadian Air Force.
The RCAF’s participation in Ex COBRA WARRIOR 23-2 will include seven CF-188 Hornets from 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron and one CC-150T Polaris from 437 Transport Squadron. Accompanying these aircraft will be over 140 RCAF personnel.
Exercise COBRA WARRIOR represents a unique and invaluable opportunity for global allies to come together and refine operational tactics in the air. Poised to participate in the multinational venture are NATO allies including the United Kingdom, the Unites States, and Italy as well as NATO partner nation, Australia.
The training will serve to enhance and hone the RCAF’s capacity to engage in high-intensity tactical air warfare within large-scale operations, while also strengthening its established proficiency in operating across European airspace.
“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,” explained Major-General Iain Huddleston, Commander 1 Canadian Air Division.