CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh -- U.S. Air Force, Bangladesh Air Force and Sri Lanka Air Force launched Pacific Angel 25-3 at BAF Zahurul Haque, Chittagong, beginning a four-day field training exercise designed to strengthen disaster response, humanitarian assistance and regional partnerships Sept. 15, 2025.
Pacific Angel is a U.S. Pacific Air Forces initiative that has been held throughout the Indo-Pacific for more than a decade. The exercise series brings together U.S. service members, partner nation militaries and local organizations to enhance readiness, exchange knowledge and improve collaboration during potential humanitarian crises.
In Chittagong, participants will spend the week working side by side through a variety of scenarios, including disaster response operations, mobile medical site establishment and search-and-rescue training. Engineering teams will also collaborate with locals to provide needed refurbishments to a local hospital, while medical professionals from both nations share best practices in the event of an emergency.
Chittagong’s location on the Bay of Bengal makes it vulnerable to cyclones, flooding, and other natural disasters. Bangladesh and the United States continually work to enhance their partnership and build trust by giving back to local communities through Pacific Angel. While this exercise focuses on training, it also enables the BAF to best support their local communities surrounding their base.
Training in such a setting provides realistic challenges and reinforces the importance of preparation and interoperability, ultimately underscoring both nation’s enduring commitment to regional partnerships and the shared goal of a more stable, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific.
"It's an absolute privilege to represent the United States Air Force with such a skilled team of Airmen in Bangladesh,” said Maj Kallen “Triton” Judah, Pacific Angel 25-3 mission commander. “The work that we are doing here will undoubtedly have lasting effects through strategic partnerships with the Bangladesh Air Force, as well as further showcasing US Indo-Pacific Command's commitment to the region."