AIR Force pilots from the Philippines and the United States are set to conduct maneuvers over a wide area of Luzon during the Cope Thunder-Philippines military exercise that began Monday at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

Air Force Public Affairs chief Col. Consuelo Castillo said that at least 12 US F-16 supersonic multi-role fighter aircraft and four FA-50s from the Philippines would participate in the reconnaissance and training maneuvers. A Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130J cargo aircraft will join the drills.