President and Commander-in-Chief of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Dr Mohamed Muizzu has inaugurated the MNDF Air Corps.
Establishment of MNDF's Air Corps were announced at a ceremony held tonight in the island of Maafaru in Noonu Atoll.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu attended the event, accompanied by First Lady Sajida Mohamed.
The President Dr @MMuizzu and First Lady attend the launch ceremony of @MNDF_Official 's Air Corps and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) at Maafaru Island of Noonu Atoll. pic.twitter.com/Tk9RIpJ3lB
— The President's Office (@presidencymv) March 15, 2024
Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, as well as other senior officers also participated in the ceremony.
The Maafaru International Airport, where the ceremony is being held, will also be the location of the Air Corps base responsible for drone operations.
The MNDF Air Corps were launched through a resolution signed by the President tonight on the new introduction of utilizing military drones for surveillance of the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone.
MNDF said that the first service undertaken by the Air Corps is the operation of Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicles (UAV).
MNDF further said that although the three drones, of the model Bayraktar TB2, bought from Turkey are being launched tonight, both unmanned and manned systems will be introduced to the services in the future, with resources being sought for the Air Corps at the levels permitted through the State budget.
While MNDF has previously had air forces under different names, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef said that unlike at present, the force had been highly dependent on foreign assistance during earlier efforts.
He stated that the established of the Air Corps, as well as the procurement of these drones, would prove to be important steps in guaranteeing national security.
"The bloodline of Maldivians' economy, and the safety of Maldivian sons and daughters who live through earnings gained from the oceans and lagoons of Maldives will be further guaranteed through the establishment of the MNDF Air Corps' services. Enhancing the capability of MNDF to monitor the ocean territory day and night, without interruption, is a crucial step taken even for the sake of our ancestors who courageously protected this nation even at the cost of their blood and lives," Abdul Raheem stated.
The Chief of Defence Force assured that MNDF would always remain steadfast in protecting the nation's independence and sovereignty without fail, at all times.
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