U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force participate in Cope North exercise Published Feb. 27, 2018 Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force recently participated in COPE NORTH 18, which is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored tri-lateral field training exercise designed to develop synergistic and increase interoperability. Other efforts included logistical re-supply, medical evacuation, troop movement, and humanitarian assistance.