AROUND 225 United States and Philippine airmen are expected to take part in the second stage of Cope Thunder, a large-scale joint exercise between the two allied countries that began in 1976 but was halted after the US military closed its bases at Clark and Subic in 1991.

During the three-week US Pacific Air Force (US Pacaf)-sponsored bilateral fighter training that will run from July 2 until July 21, US and Philippine service members will exercise together to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures while improving interoperability.