The Flying Fish Table Top Exercise (TTX), a capacity-building coordination programme between Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), was successfully conducted at No. 8 Squadron, SLAF Base Ratmalana, from 11 to 13 February 2025. This collaborative exercise was conducted with the participation of a Japanese delegation, pilots representing No. 1 Flying Training Wing (FTW), No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 Squadrons and SLAF Regiment Special Forces (RSF) personnel.

The primary objective of the exercise was to enhance operational readiness, coordination and response effectiveness in a pilot ejection scenario. This initiative further strengthened bilateral cooperation between the SLAF and the JASDF while promoting knowledge exchange and best practices.

The exercise commenced with an initial Search and Rescue (SAR) briefing and discussion at No. 8 Squadron, SLAF Base Ratmalana. Officers provided the Japanese delegation with a comprehensive overview of SLAF’s SAR assets, capabilities, and operational procedures related to pilot ejection scenarios. Following the briefing, a demonstration of SAR assets and SLAF SAR procedures was conducted, offering firsthand insight into SLAF’s response mechanisms. This session was essential in ensuring that the Japanese delegation had a clear understanding of SLAF's approach to search and rescue operations before engaging in the Table Top Exercise (TTX).

Following day, a comprehensive briefing was conducted on the SLAF SAR Manual Working Document to ensure the participants' thorough understanding. This was followed by the first session of the TTX at No. 8 Squadron, structured to evaluate SLAF’s response to a pilot ejection incident in a controlled setting. The initial session adhered to the planned scenario and expected responses under optimal conditions, allowing participants to focus on coordination, decision-making, and response planning.

The final day of the exercise, yesterday (13 February 2025),  involved a second TTX session with additional emergency injects. These unexpected challenges included time delays, aircraft system unserviceability and situational occurrences that deviated from the optimal conditions outlined in the initial scenario. These added complexities tested participants’ ability to adapt to dynamic challenges, improving their crisis management and response skills.

Following the exercise, a comprehensive After-Action Review (AAR) and debriefing session took place, where the Japanese delegation and SLAF officers exchanged expert knowledge. The Japanese delegation, leveraging their extensive experience from JASDF, provided valuable insights and recommendations to enhance SLAF’s operational readiness in similar scenarios.

The senior pilots including Commanding Officers from Flying Squadrons participated for the exercise as observers, further enriching the knowledge-sharing process. Their presence added an additional layer of expertise and perspective to the exercise.

The Flying Fish Table Top Exercise concluded with a memento exchange and a group photograph, symbolising the success of this collaborative effort. The exercise not only enhanced SLAF’s operational effectiveness in SAR and pilot recovery missions but also reinforced international defence cooperation between JASDF and SLAF.