President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a Decree to establish and operationalise the first air station of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Air Corps.

The Decree empowers the MNDF Air Corps to utilise the new air station for airspace surveillance, monitoring of the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and conducting operations using Air Corps resources. It also mandates the continuous oversight of national airspace to ensure the Air Corps fully fulfils its defence responsibilities.

Issued under the President’s constitutional authority granted by Articles 106(b) and 115(t) of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, and Article 9 of the Armed Forces Act (No. 1/2008), the Decree reinforces national defence capability.

The MNDF Air Corps was officially formed on 15 March 2024 under Presidential Decree No. 5/2024. The Corps is tasked with carrying out all air operations necessary to maintain the security and safety of Maldivian airspace.