Imagine a cyclone hits Bangladesh, roads disappear under water, remote islands are cut off, and people are left waiting for food, medicine, and rescue. When trucks and boats cannot move, what becomes the only lifeline? Air power is the answer.
That is exactly why exercises like Pacific Angel (PAC ANGEL) matter. But what is PAC ANGEL, and why does it involve so many countries working together?
PAC ANGEL is a U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)-sponsored program where different nations come together to train for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). It is composed of medical, engineering and civil-military field training activities conducted to improve partnership capacity to plan and execute complex humanitarian disaster relief efforts throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
How do you relocate hundreds of injured individuals when the hospitals are full? Or how do you deliver supplies to places where there aren’t any roads? That is when the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and other partners in the region join.
From 14–18 September 2025, at BAF Base Zahurul Haque, Chattogram, Bangladesh hosted Pacific Angel 25-3. The Bangladesh Air Force collaborated with the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, the Bangladesh Army and Navy, and with medical teams from the Sri Lanka Air Force. Two C-130J transport aircraft from the US Pacific Air Forces participated in the drill, along with one Mi-17 helicopter and one C-130J transport aircraft from the Bangladesh Air Force. Along with troops of the Bangladesh Army and Navy, 92 US personnel and 150 BAF personnel participated.
The focus? It is on coordinated distribution of aid, evacuation, and airlift operations. For a cyclone, flood, and urban disaster-prone Bangladesh, this is not a theory, but a practice for survival. In case of an emergency, every second counts. For this reason, practice sessions help train teams in rapid airlift, emergency triage setup, shelter preparation, and effective civil-military coordination.
The purpose of these drills is not only to test the equipment but also to build trust and teamwork. For Bangladesh, the exercise lessons are ongoing. Teams perform rapid public health planning and need assessments and joint coordination. In so doing, they provide skills that will endure lasting benefits. In addition, the country builds its inter-US partnerships, regional neighbors, and intra-Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force partnerships, as Major Kallen “Triton” Judah, mission commander of Pacific Angel 25-3 said, “the work we are doing here will 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.”
Thus, when the next cyclone strikes and the airspace is closed, there is no reason to panic. This is no longer just a question of ‘what now?’ as exercises like PAC ANGEL help ensure that the answer is clear, to use airlift, carry out evacuations, and deliver timely aid.
What to Watch:
For Further Reading:
- Pacific Angel 25-3 kicks off in Chittagong, Bangladesh
- ISPR: BAF-US joint exercise brings medical upgrades to Anwara Health Complex
- Bangladesh, US conclude joint exercise ‘Operation Pacific Angel 25-3‘
Verification Note:
All information in this article is based on official sources and other authentic news outlets-
• U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Official Website
• Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS News)
• Daily Sun
Afiya Ibnath Ayshi is a Security and Strategic Reporting Fellow at Bangladesh Defence Journal. She covers defence, foreign affairs, and humanitarian issues, focusing on how regional and global developments influence Bangladesh’s security and diplomacy. A graduate in English from the University of Dhaka, she brings a research-based and balanced approach to her work.