The U.S. Air Force and Bangladesh Air Force
(BAF) began Exercise Cope South on Sunday , November 1, 2026, at BAF Base Bir
Uttam A.K. Khandker in Dhaka. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces sponsored the five￾day exercise, which runs through November 5. Bangladesh Air Vice Marshall
Haider Abdullah and U.S. Embassy Dhaka Acting Deputy Chief of Mission
Trishita Maula welcomed participants at the opening ceremony.
Pilots, maintenance specialists, and logistics teams from both countries will train
side by side on C-130J operations and maintenance, cargo handling, aviation
safety, emergency response, airfield security, and medical support.
Cope South strengthens the ability of both air forces in responding to regional
security challenges, natural disasters, and humanitarian emergencies. The hands-on
training will sharpen their ability to deliver emergency supplies and support relief
operations when a crisis strikes.