SLAF, USAF Conclude Bilateral Exercise Atlas Angel

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the US Air Force (USAF) trained together earlier this month at SLAF Base Katunayake under the auspices of bilateral Exercise Atlas Angel.

The exercise which took place at SLAF Base Katunayake and SLAF Academy China Bay, featured the active participation of the Montana National Guard with over 70 U.S. personnel and two C-130 Hercules aircraft.

SLAF pilots, flight engineers, loadmasters, medical personnel, firefighters participated in the exercises which also featured Maldivian observers.

“Exercise Atlas Angelis one of the main combined exercises operationalized under the Montana State Partnership Program and it provides space for greater engagement between Sri Lanka Air Force and Montana National Guard through subject matter expert exchanges, developing strategic foresight on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief as well as Search and Rescue missions and promoting interoperability for collective security in the region,” said Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa.

Atlas Angel featured six exercises, including urban and medical search and rescue as well as airfield repair, culminating in a crisis management exercise.

The Subject Matter Expert Exchanges focussed on key areas such as C-130 Pilot Exchange, C-130 Aviation Maintenance, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) at SLAF Base Katunayake, as well as Medical Search and Rescue (SAR), Urban SAR and Airfield Assessment at SLAF Academy China Bay.

The personnel also trained on C-130 aviation maintenance, inter-command systems, medical operations, and HADR exercises.