Major U.S.-Led Military Exercises Around India:
Bangladesh and the United States will conduct three joint exercises (Tiger Lightning, Tiger Shark, Pacific Angel) and launch the RQ-21 UAS program in 2025 to enhance interoperability and regional security.
Exercise Tiger Lightning 2025:
- Host: Bangladesh
- Participants: Bangladesh Army and U.S. Army Pacific
- Aim: Improve readiness for counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations, jungle warfare, and medical evacuation.
- Focus on counter-K training and rescue drills.
Exercise Tiger Shark 2025 (Flash Bengal Series):
- Host: Bangladesh
- Participants: Bangladesh Special Warfare Diving and Salvage Unit, Para Commando Brigade, U.S. Special Forces
- Aim: Strengthen maritime security operations and special operations readiness.
- Key Features:Training in patrol boat handling and small-arms marksmanship, Use of U.S. equipment to improve interoperability in crisis response.
Exercise Pacific Angel 2025:
- Host: Bangladesh (4th iteration) and Sri Lanka (largest regional event in 2025)
- Participants: U.S. Pacific Air Forces, Bangladesh Air Force, Sri Lanka Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Maldives Defence Force
- Aim: Enhance disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and aeromedical evacuation capability.
- Key Features: C-130 aircraft airdrop training and air mobility drills, Search & Rescue (SAR), jungle survival, and mass casualty response exercises, Strengthens multi-nation interoperability for regional HADR.
RQ-21 Blackjack UAS Program Launch:
- Location: Bangladesh
- Partners: U.S. Army & Navy with Bangladesh Army/Navy
- Aim: Build indigenous unmanned aerial surveillance capability.
