The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) organized a 10-day joint exercise called “Exercise Cope South-2024,” which got underway at the Bangabandhu base on February 19.
According to a press statement issued by ISPR today, the United States and the Pacific Air Force are participating in this cooperative initiative that is expected to greatly improve the operational effectiveness of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.By sharing expertise and experiences between the two countries, the exercise aims to improve skills connected to combat landings and the delivery of relief and rescue equipment.
The country’s coastal and riverine geography, coupled with the adverse effects of climate change, necessitates proactive disaster response measures. Rapid transportation and distribution of relief and rescue materials to the affected areas during such catastrophes is vital and the transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force plays a pivotal role in such scenarios.
The exercise primarily aims to enhance BAF capability as well as to ensure maximum utilization of BAF transport aircraft in both wartime and peacetime scenarios.
As part of the exercise, a Container Drop drill was conducted near Sylhet Cantonment on 25 February 2024, Sunday using two C-130J aircrafts (One C-130J aircraft from the Pacific Air Force, USA and one C-130J aircraft from Bangladesh Air Force). This will certainly enhance Bangladesh Air Force’s capability to airlift substantial quantities of relief and rescue materials to disaster-affected areas quickly in a safe manner.
This cooperative endeavor will promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries in addition to strengthening disaster response skills.
