Bangladesh, US air forces to conduct joint exercise in Dhaka, Sylhet

Air Forces from the US and Bangladesh will participate in a joint exercise in Dhaka and Sylhet next week to bolster regional stability for a shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

According to a statement released by Pacific Air Forces on February 11, US airmen from 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base in Japan, and Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) will participate in exercise "Cope South 22" on February 20-25 at BAF Kurmitola Cantonment, Dhaka and operating location - Alpha in Sylhet for a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored bilateral tactical airlift exercise.

Approximately 77 US airmen along with two US Air Force C-130J Super Hercules from 36th Airlift Squadron will join approximately 300 Bangladesh armed forces members and 2 Bangladeshi C-130Js for the exercise.

Exercise goals include improving interoperability with Bangladesh Air Force and supporting armed forces of the Bangladesh's long-term modernisation efforts in order to maintain regional stability.

This will be done by conducting flight operations to include aircraft generation and recovery, daytime low-level navigation, tactical airdrop, and air-land missions, as well as subject-matter expert exchanges in the operations, maintenance and rigging career fields, the statement said.

"The Bangladesh air force is one of our most important regional partners, and Cope South allows us to strengthen this partnership through tactical airlift sorties and subject-matter expert exchanges," said Lt Col Kira Coffey, 36 AS Director of Operations.

"This is critical to bolstering regional stability for our shared goal of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," Lt Col Kira Coffey said.

As this year's Cope South will be the first iteration since the start of Covid pandemic, health measures will be in place for the protection of participating forces and Bangladesh population.

"Covid-19 has only accelerated the need to improve our ability to work together during a potential Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief scenario," added Lt Col Coffey.

In a joint statement released June 11, 2019, by the US Department of State, the two governments reaffirmed their commitment to enduring partnership, highlighting close cooperation on security, development, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism.

The two governments also agreed to continue to cooperate closely to advance a shared vision of a free and open, inclusive, peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region.