The joint exercise at the Andersen Air Force Base, known as Cope North 2021, started on Wednesday and will run until Feb 19 and will see the base hosting F-35A joint strike fighters for the first time, reports South China Morning Post.

It kicks off with an exercise designed to improve the three countries’ ability to carry out humanitarian operations in response to a natural disaster in the region, according to a statement from the US air force in the Pacific, reports the newspaper.

Exercise Cope North 21 Australian commander Nathan Christie was quoted as saying by Airforce Technology website: “More than 2,000 military personnel and approximately 95 aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are scheduled to participate in this exercise."

“Australian personnel are drawn from across airforce with elements of Surveillance and Response Group, Air Mobility Group, and Combat Support Group participating,"  Nathan Christie said.

“An E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, and a Contingency Response Squadron have also deployed to the exercise," said  Nathan Christie.