The Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Priyadarshana Rajapaksa, met with Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), during his visit to witness Exercise Indus Shield 2024. This meeting, held at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad, underscored the strong ties between the two air forces and highlighted shared goals of advancing regional security and cooperation.
Exercise Indus Shield-2024, the largest military exercise in the region, brought together air chiefs and high-ranking military officials from allied countries to observe PAF’s multi-domain warfighting capabilities. The exercise demonstrated Pakistan Air Force’s operational strength and emphasized the importance of global collaboration among air forces.
Upon his arrival, Air Marshal Rajapaksa was greeted with a guard of honor by a contingent of the Pakistan Air Force. During their discussions, the two air chiefs addressed various operational issues, specifically in the context of regional security. Air Chief Marshal Sidhu shared insights into Pakistan Air Force’s ongoing modernization projects, including updates on its operational structure, future goals, and enhanced capabilities aimed at preparing for next-generation warfare. Expressing his appreciation for Sri Lanka’s participation in Exercise Indus Shield, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening military cooperation with Sri Lanka, especially in maintenance support and training to support the Sri Lankan Air Force’s capacity building.
Air Marshal Rajapaksa commended Pakistan’s strides in indigenization and its strategic evolution into a Next Generation Air Force. He praised the professionalism displayed by PAF personnel and lauded the organization and execution of Exercise Indus Shield, calling it a world-class military event. He also expressed his desire to optimize the existing ties between the two nations, specifically in areas of training, maintenance, and operational readiness.
Following the meeting, Air Marshal Rajapaksa toured the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park, as well as the National ISR & Integrated Air Operations Centre and PAF Cyber Command, where he received a briefing on Pakistan Air Force’s advanced operational capabilities.
