Regional militaries join hands in Pacific Angel

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Exercise Pacific Angel – 2025 will kick off on Monday (08) in Sri Lanka and run until 12 September, bringing together the United States Pacific Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force, the Indian Air Force, the Maldivian National Defence Force and the Bangladesh Air Force, with the Sri Lanka Navy and Army also playing active roles.   
A total of 300 personnel, including 123 from foreign contingents, will participate in joint training focused on Search and Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).   
The programme will feature eight Subject Matter Expert Exchanges covering aircraft maintenance and aircrew operations, SAR open-water and helicopter hoist missions, jungle survival and tracking, aeromedical patient movement, mass casualty medical response, a military band resilience programme and airlift cargo handling.   
Most activities will take place at SLAF Base Katunayake, with SLAF Academy China Bay and the SLAF Regimental Training Centre Ampara serving as specialist hubs, aimed at enhancing interoperability, operational readiness and multinational cooperation in the region.