On 24th August 2024, this year´s edition of Pacific Angel exercise began at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The training is being led by US Indo-Pacific Command with participation of the United States Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the French Air and Space Force and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
The Pacific Angel exercise is a four-day-long military training focused on search and rescue operations. However, it also works as a platform to exchange participants´ experiences in the field of aircraft maintenance, adverse terrain survival and swift water personnel recovery.
´At its core, Pacific Angel is more than just a military exercise—it is a shared commitment to aiding those in need and enhancing our collective readiness to respond to crises,´ said USAF Maj. Patrick Woodruff, Pacific Angel 24-1 mission commander. ´Exercises like Pacific Angel are designed to posture U.S. Air Force Airmen and allied military and civilian personnel to work together to quickly and effectively respond to a wide range of possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenarios. This mission reflects the values we all hold dear: service, cooperation, and a dedication to improving the lives of those in our partner nation communities.´
The current training is already the 21st edition of the Pacific Angel exercise. It´s also the fourth time it is being hosted in Papua New Guinea. The PNGDF is tasked with the defence of the country and its territories against external attack as well as internal security and socio-economic development duties. The United States and Australia provides formal assistance to Papua New Guinea to help expand and improve its defence capabilities.
The PNGDF maintains a small Air Element, consisting of the Air Transport Wing and including the Air Transport Squadron, the Papua New Guinea sole military aviation unit.
The Air Transport Wing inventory consist of three PAC P-750 XSTOL aircraft used for SAR and surveillance duties, and two Bell 212 helicopters. Their airworthiness is, to a large extent, dependent on the RAAF aid. Australia donated two of the aforementioned P-750s aeroplanes and took care of the necessary repairs, as well as leased the helicopters.
The Air Element has also two CASA CN-235 aircraft, although not in active service. They were acquired by Papua New Guinea in the 1990s to serve as both airlifters and SAR aeroplanes. However, it was quickly discovered that keeping them operational is beyond the country´s military budget. Therefore, due to lack of necessary maintenance, both aircraft lost their airworthiness.
Cover photo: USAF, RAAF, French Air Force and PNGDF personnel participating in Pacific Angel 24-1 pose for a group photo at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, August 24, 2024 (USAF photo by Senior Master Sgt. DeAndre Curtiss)
All photos and quotations © U.S. Department of Defence (DoD). DoD information materials were used, in compliance with Public Domain licence. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
