SS News Desk
20 July, 2025:
The United States and Bangladesh are set to deepen their longstanding defense partnership through three major joint military exercises this summer, alongside the launch of a new unmanned aerial system (UAS) capability. These initiatives aim to enhance regional stability, strengthen bilateral military cooperation, and build operational readiness to tackle emerging security challenges.
Exercise Tiger Lightning, now in its fourth year, will be conducted in July between the Bangladesh Army and the U.S. Army Pacific. The training will focus on counterterrorism, peacekeeping, jungle warfare, medical evacuation, and counter-IED operations.
Also in July, Exercise Tiger Shark 2025, a part of the Flash Bengal series, will bring together the Special Forces of both nations. This long-running exercise, first launched in 2009, emphasizes patrol boat handling and small arms marksmanship. It will also highlight the use of U.S. military equipment by both forces to strengthen Bangladesh’s elite units, including the Special Warfare Diving and Salvage and the Para Commando Brigade.
In September, the two countries will participate in Exercise Pacific Angel, focused on disaster response capabilities. This exercise will include training in aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, and highlight the use of C-130 aircraft for humanitarian missions.
Additionally, the U.S. is supporting Bangladesh’s development of its first RQ-21 Blackjack UAS capability. Operated by a joint Army-Navy regiment, this system will enable Bangladesh to bolster maritime domain awareness, border security, and peacekeeping operations.
These efforts reflect the growing strategic defense cooperation between the two nations.
Source: US Embassy, Dhaka
