President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has signed a decree authorising the establishment and operationalisation of the first air station of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Air Corps, signalling a decisive upgrade to the country’s defence infrastructure. The move, empowered under Articles 106(b) and 115(t) of the Constitution and Article 9 of the Armed Forces Act (Law No. 1/2008), paves the way for round-the-clock aerial surveillance over Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to the presidential directive, the Air Corps must now establish and commence operations of the new air station to reinforce air-space surveillance, monitor the EEZ and execute assigned air operations. The decree further mandates continuous 24-hour monitoring of the EEZ, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime and aerial domain.
The Air Corps itself was launched on 15 March 2024 by the President in his role as Commander-in-Chief. At that time, the new service was introduced alongside unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and marked the Maldives’ first step into dedicated air-forcetype capability.
Officials highlight that the new air station will significantly elevate the MNDF’s ability to protect the nation’s territory, deter illicit activity and strengthen maritime aviation capacity. With the vast majority of the Republic’s extent consisting of ocean, enhanced aerial monitoring is seen as a logical and necessary advancement.
The decree comes at a time when the government is emphasising modernisation of national defence, signalling a forward-looking posture in the Indian Ocean region. The establishment of the station is expected to bolster not just defence but also sovereignty, economic zone protection and regional maritime security.
As the initial air station gets underway, observers will watch for the station’s location, assets deployed and operational readiness in coming weeks.
