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World air forces, Sri Lanka
Date Posted: 11-Dec-2009
Jane's World Air Forces
Sri Lanka - Air Force
Summary
Assessment
Deployments, tasks and operations
Role and Deployment
Recent and Current Operations
Command and control
Organisation
Order of Battle
Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine
Bases
Training
Training Areas
Air Force procurement
Combat
Transport
C4ISR
UAV
Air Defence
Modernisation
Equipment in service
Fixed Wing
Rotary Wing
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Missiles
Sri Lanka - Air Force
Summary
STRENGTH
20,000
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
CAC F-7M, Kfir, MiG-27M 'Flogger-J2'
COMBAT HELICOPTER
Mi-24/35 'Hind', Mi-17 'Hip-H'
TRANSPORT
C-130K Hercules, HAI Y-12 (II), An-32 'Cline'
Assessment
From being an essentially transport / communications support organisation, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has developed an effective fixed-wing and helicopter attack. The SLAF is a competent, if relatively unsophisticated, air arm with good quality aircrew and well-trained engineering and other ground staff. It has had to adapt to the requirements of counter-revolutionary air warfare and has done so adequately, although some training has been restricted by financial limitations. Its command and control at higher levels suffers from lack of experience on the part of operations officers, but in general the SLAF has been able to respond adequately to operational requirements.
The problem of securing airfields had been highlighted by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacks on the main civil airport in Colombo and its contiguous SLAF base. As a consequence, increased emphasis has been placed on securing perimeters and patrolling, while the number of forward operating bases has been reduced. Concurrently, the role of the SLAF Regiment in undertaking internal security tasks has been extended to that of army infantry, and elements have taken part in large-scale attacks on rebel forces.
Despite efforts to enhance airfield security, the LTTE continued to pose a considerable threat, exemplified by a pre-dawn raid on the base at Anuradhapura on 22 October 2007. At least eight aircraft and helicopters are known to have been damaged beyond repair, including three PT-6 piston-engined trainers, one K-8 Karakorum jet trainer, a SIGINT-configured King Air 200, one Mi-24 'Hind' attack helicopter and two Mi-17 'Hip' assault helicopters. A Bell 212 was also destroyed when it crashed nearby during the course of the raid, with some reports attributing this to mechanical failure while others claimed it was hit by ground fire (possibly friendly fire). Most of the damage was accomplished by 21 members of the 'Black Tiger' suicide squad (all of whom were killed), but two LTTE Zlin Z 143 light aircraft are known to have dropped two bombs during the prolonged attack. Three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were also destroyed (including two Blue Horizon-2 UAVs owned by an Israeli supplier that were being readied for demonstration flights) and several other aircraft are known to have been damaged, including at least three PT-6s and four SF.260TPs that were in storage following retirement. Some reports allude to six Cessna 150s also having been destroyed, but these again are retired aircraft that were in storage. Two Zlins of the LTTE carried out bombing raids on Mannar and Colombo in October 2008, avoiding surveillance radar. While the attacks were inconsequential and caused little damage, the propaganda effect was considerable.
With the LTTE Air Force destroyed and the conflict against the LTTE concluded, the SLAF has begun to re-assess its capabilities, organisation and operational art, which was previously geared almost entirely toward internal security. Early evidence of these changes were evidenced by the May 2009 purchase of Russian-made military transport helicopters, which Jayantha Wickramasinghe, chief executive officer of Lanka Logistics and Technologies Limited - the company created by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence in 2007 to procure equipment for the armed forces - said would "assist stages of development in our country without terrorism".
Deployments, tasks and operations
Role and Deployment
The official functions of the SLAF are to:
Provide tactical air support and air transport for land and naval forces;
Provide rescue facilities and transport as directed by the government;
Provide engineering and logistic support services to maintain aircraft, road transport, electronic equipment and other plant and machinery;
Provide troops for internal security operations; and
Undertake non-military air operations and carry out research projects connected with national development.
In addition, the SLAF is tasked to provide manned and UAV reconnaissance. It has an air force regiment (SLAFR), primarily concerned with airfield defence but also capable of assisting the army in other ground combat tasks. The regiment has a special forces element of about company strength (that is intended to be increased) responsible for unconventional operations, including rescue of downed aircrew and close protection.
Recent and Current Operations
In addition to operations in Sri Lanka, some 48 SLAF personnel serve with the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
Command and control
Commander, Air Force: Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake
Chief of Staff, Air Force: Air Vice Marshal PB Premachandra
Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force: Air Vice Marshal HD Abeywickrama
The SLAF is headed by a three-star Air Marshal, Roshan Goonatilake, who was appointed in 2006. He has a Chief of Staff (Air Vice Marshal) and 11 directors, all of two-star rank with the exception of the Welfare Director, who is an Air Commodore. Bases and instructional establishments are commanded by group captains and wing commanders.
Organisation
Air force HQ is in Colombo. Fixed-wing and helicopter squadrons are concentrated at five main bases and can operate from forward airfields, deploying to these and as required. The level of the insurgency since 2001 has made it necessary for the SLAF to reduce the number of bases in order to maximise physical security, and deployment has been tailored to meet this requirement.
Order of Battle
Unit Base Type Role
2 Squadron Ratmalana An-32 Transport
2 Squadron Ratmalana C-130K Hercules Transport
2 Squadron Ratmalana Cessna 421 Communications
4 Squadron Katunayake Bell 206 VIP Transport
4 Squadron Katunayake Bell 412 VIP Transport
4 Squadron Katunayake Mi-17 VIP Transport
5 Squadron Katunayake MiG-27M Attack
5 Squadron Katunayake MiG-23UB Operational Training
5 Squadron Katunayake F-7 Attack
5 Squadron Katunayake FT-7 Operational Training
5 Squadron Katunayake FT-5 Operational Training
6 Squadron Vavuniya Mi-17 Assault Transport
7 Squadron Hingarukgoda Bell 206 Utility
7 Squadron Hingarukgoda Bell 212 Utility
7 Squadron Hingarukgoda Bell 412 Utility
8 Squadron Ratmalana Y-12 (II) Utility
8 Squadron Ratmalana King Air Surveillance
9 Squadron Hingarukgoda Mi-24 Attack
9 Squadron Hingarukgoda Mi-35 Attack
10 Squadron Katunayake Kfir C2/C7 Air Defence / Attack
10 Squadron Katunayake Kfir TC2 Operational Training
11 Air Surveillance Flight Vavuniya Searcher UAV Reconnaissance
11 Air Surveillance Flight Vavuniya Scout Reconnaissance
14 Squadron Katunayake K-8 Karakorum Advanced Training
1 Flying Training Wing Anuradhapura PT-6 Training
Aircraft Preservation & Storage Unit Ratmalana Various Overhaul and Museum
Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine
The SLAF is geared mainly to support ground and naval forces in counter-insurgency and interdiction operations.
Bases
Anuradhapura (08° 18' 04" N; 80° 25' 41" E)
Hingarukgoda (08° 03' 06" N; 80° 58' 49" E)
Katunayake - Colombo International Airport (07° 10' 52" N; 79° 53' 01" E)
Ratmalana (06° 49' 19" N; 79° 53' 10" E)
Vavuniya (08° 44' 27" N; 80° 29' 52" E)
Other airfields that can be and are used as forward operating locations include Ampara, Batticaloa, China Bay / Trincomalee, Katukurunda, Koggala, Palaly, Palavi, Sigiriya and Wirawila.
Training
The Directorate of Training formulates instructional policy and is responsible for initial, basic and advanced technical training, as well as specialised tuition and instructor training. Initial pilot training is conducted at Anuradhapura by No.1 Flying Training Wing, with advanced pilot training the responsibility of No.14 Squadron at Katunayake (K-8). Engineering and technical instruction takes place at the Basic Trade Training School, Katunayake, followed by further tuition at the Advanced & Specialised Trade Training School, Ekala. Some training is undertaken overseas, notably in the US and India.
Training Areas
The SLAF conducts aerial training in civilian-free airspace throughout the country, excluding the northern area in which the LTTE is active.
Air Force procurement
Combat
The SLAF is adequately equipped with reasonably modern combat aircraft, but is anxious to obtain additional fighters, with a priority 'shopping list' revealed in early 2007 indicating the intent to purchase four F-7s from China, as well as a small number of MiG-29s. Nevertheless, it appears that negotiations for the purchase of a handful of MiG-29SMs (including one MiG-29UB two-seater) were concluded in March 2008, with subsequent reports alluding to arrival in country of at least some of these aircraft by mid-September 2008. Confirmation of this is still awaited, but it is known that six examples of the F-7GS were provided as a gift by China in January 2008 and these are now understood to be operational with No.5 Squadron at Katunayake.
Further purchases of Mi-24/35 'Hind' combat helicopters are anticipated, with at least three examples needed in the short term. In view of the avowed intent to replace aircraft and helicopters destroyed and damaged by the LTTE raid of October 2007, that number may well have increased.
Previously, in December 2006, the SLAF received four overhauled MiG-27 ground-attack aircraft from Ukraine's state-owned defence organisation, Ukrinmash. The four MiG-27s were purchased at a cost of about USD10 million in a government-to-government deal financed by Bellimissa Holdings. More than 20 years old, according to Sri Lankan government officials, they should nevertheless remain in service until about 2013-14. As part of this procurement arrangement, the surviving three MiG-27s (of six delivered) and a MiG-23UB trainer aircraft already in service with the SLAF were overhauled in Ukraine.
Transport
In addition to the more urgent planned acquisitions alluded to above, Sri Lanka had a lower priority requirement for additional transport aircraft and helicopters and expressed a desire to purchase at least two Antonov An-32s and four Mil Mi-17s to augment existing fleets of these types. To this end, Sri Lanka's government ordered several military transport helicopters from Russia in May 2009 "to help the country develop" as the long-running conflict with the LTTE drew to a close. No details about the procurement were revealed, but the acquisition will improve the SLAF's aerial resupply capability in support of major operations.
C4ISR
The wish to acquire additional airborne surveillance and intelligence-gathering capability in the form of two more King Air 200s was made known early in 2007. At that time, these were considered to be a lower-priority item, but the two additional aircraft gained greater importance following destruction of the SIGINT-configured King Air 200 in the Anuradhapura attack of October 2007.
UAV
The SLAF has a specialised reconnaissance unit operating Israeli Searcher and Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), one of which crashed in October 2005. Indian Navy Heron UAVs are used to conduct surveillance in India-Sri Lanka waters and it is presumed that at least some of the information gathered is passed on to Sri Lanka. At least one SLAF UAV was destroyed in the attack on Anuradhapura and this is expected to be replaced, with additional examples almost certain to be obtained to provide enhanced surveillance capability.
Air Defence
Following the launch of air strikes by the LTTE, Sri Lanka moved to upgrade its air defence and airspace surveillance capabilities. A JY-11 3-D radar valued at USD5 million had been ordered from China National Electronics Import Export Corporation in October 2005, but the deal was postponed following Indian protests that this system would "over arch" into Indian air space. To offset this, New Delhi provided two Indra II-PC 2-D radars free of charge and, in April 2007, agreed to deliver a third. Subsequently, with LTTE aircraft posing a modest physical but significant propaganda threat, it was reported, but has not been confirmed independently, that the Chinese radar was acquired and is now in position in Mirigama.
Modernisation
In mid-2006, with the prospect of a sustained civil war looming, Sri Lanka approached Pakistan for assistance for all branches of the armed forces. Sri Lanka is also seeking to enhance reconnaissance capability and indicated a need for a day/night camera pod for use by either the Kfir or F-7, as well as gyro-stabilised, day/night-capable, electro-optical sensors for installation on the King Air 200. Other items on the list of desired equipment include AIM-9P Sidewinder and/or R550 Magic heat-seeking air-to-air missiles, guided missiles for the 'Hind' combat helicopters as well as other munitions, including general purpose, cluster and fragmentation bombs, unguided rockets, 7.62 mm ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades.
Procurement notifications in 2008 included tender requests for Y-12 avionics, Searcher UAV engine spares, and general spares for C-130A/C, Bell 212H/C, and Beech Kings.
Equipment in service
Fixed Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
F-7BS CAC Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 4 3 1991
F-7GS CAC Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 6 61 2008
Kfir C2 IAI Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 9 6 1996
Kfir C7 IAI Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 4 2 2001
MiG-27M Flogger-J2 MiG Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 10 7 2000
King Air 200 HISAR Beech Reconnaissance / Surveillance 1 1 2002
C-130K Hercules C. Mk 1 Lockheed Martin Transport 2 2 2000
An-32 Cline Antonov Transport 10 7 1995
Y-12 (II) HAI Transport 9 4 1987
421 Golden Eagle Cessna Transport 1 12 1981
FT-5 CAC Trainer 2 2 1991
FT-7 GAIC Trainer 1 1 1992
Kfir TC2 IAI Trainer 2 1 1996
MiG-23UB Flogger-C MiG Trainer 1 1 2000
PT-6 HAIC Trainer 10 6 2001
K-8 Karakorum HAIC Trainer 9 5 2001
Notes:
May include one FT-7 two-seater.
Operated by Sri Lanka Survey Department.
Rotary Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
Mi-24V Hind-E Mil Attack 14 31 1998
Mi-24P Hind-F Mil Attack 4 31 n/a
Mi-35P Hind-F Mil Attack 7 41 1998
Mi-17 Hip-H Mil Assault 13 5 1993
206A JetRanger Bell Utility 7 2 1969
206B JetRanger III Bell Utility 2 2 1981
212 Bell Utility 18 5 1981
412 Bell Utility 8 8 1985
Note:
A Mil Mi-24 'Hind' helicopter crashed on 27 November 2009 during a routine training mission, although the variant has not been confirmed.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
Searcher IAI Multirole n/a n/a n/a
Scout IAI Multirole n/a n/a n/a
Missiles
Type Manufacturer Role
PL-2 'Atoll' CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-3 CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-5 CATIC Air-to-Air
UPDATED
Dec-2009
Date Posted: 11-Dec-2009
Jane's World Air Forces
Sri Lanka - Air Force
Summary
Assessment
Deployments, tasks and operations
Role and Deployment
Recent and Current Operations
Command and control
Organisation
Order of Battle
Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine
Bases
Training
Training Areas
Air Force procurement
Combat
Transport
C4ISR
UAV
Air Defence
Modernisation
Equipment in service
Fixed Wing
Rotary Wing
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Missiles
Sri Lanka - Air Force
Summary
STRENGTH
20,000
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
CAC F-7M, Kfir, MiG-27M 'Flogger-J2'
COMBAT HELICOPTER
Mi-24/35 'Hind', Mi-17 'Hip-H'
TRANSPORT
C-130K Hercules, HAI Y-12 (II), An-32 'Cline'
Assessment
From being an essentially transport / communications support organisation, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has developed an effective fixed-wing and helicopter attack. The SLAF is a competent, if relatively unsophisticated, air arm with good quality aircrew and well-trained engineering and other ground staff. It has had to adapt to the requirements of counter-revolutionary air warfare and has done so adequately, although some training has been restricted by financial limitations. Its command and control at higher levels suffers from lack of experience on the part of operations officers, but in general the SLAF has been able to respond adequately to operational requirements.
The problem of securing airfields had been highlighted by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attacks on the main civil airport in Colombo and its contiguous SLAF base. As a consequence, increased emphasis has been placed on securing perimeters and patrolling, while the number of forward operating bases has been reduced. Concurrently, the role of the SLAF Regiment in undertaking internal security tasks has been extended to that of army infantry, and elements have taken part in large-scale attacks on rebel forces.
Despite efforts to enhance airfield security, the LTTE continued to pose a considerable threat, exemplified by a pre-dawn raid on the base at Anuradhapura on 22 October 2007. At least eight aircraft and helicopters are known to have been damaged beyond repair, including three PT-6 piston-engined trainers, one K-8 Karakorum jet trainer, a SIGINT-configured King Air 200, one Mi-24 'Hind' attack helicopter and two Mi-17 'Hip' assault helicopters. A Bell 212 was also destroyed when it crashed nearby during the course of the raid, with some reports attributing this to mechanical failure while others claimed it was hit by ground fire (possibly friendly fire). Most of the damage was accomplished by 21 members of the 'Black Tiger' suicide squad (all of whom were killed), but two LTTE Zlin Z 143 light aircraft are known to have dropped two bombs during the prolonged attack. Three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were also destroyed (including two Blue Horizon-2 UAVs owned by an Israeli supplier that were being readied for demonstration flights) and several other aircraft are known to have been damaged, including at least three PT-6s and four SF.260TPs that were in storage following retirement. Some reports allude to six Cessna 150s also having been destroyed, but these again are retired aircraft that were in storage. Two Zlins of the LTTE carried out bombing raids on Mannar and Colombo in October 2008, avoiding surveillance radar. While the attacks were inconsequential and caused little damage, the propaganda effect was considerable.
With the LTTE Air Force destroyed and the conflict against the LTTE concluded, the SLAF has begun to re-assess its capabilities, organisation and operational art, which was previously geared almost entirely toward internal security. Early evidence of these changes were evidenced by the May 2009 purchase of Russian-made military transport helicopters, which Jayantha Wickramasinghe, chief executive officer of Lanka Logistics and Technologies Limited - the company created by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence in 2007 to procure equipment for the armed forces - said would "assist stages of development in our country without terrorism".
Deployments, tasks and operations
Role and Deployment
The official functions of the SLAF are to:
Provide tactical air support and air transport for land and naval forces;
Provide rescue facilities and transport as directed by the government;
Provide engineering and logistic support services to maintain aircraft, road transport, electronic equipment and other plant and machinery;
Provide troops for internal security operations; and
Undertake non-military air operations and carry out research projects connected with national development.
In addition, the SLAF is tasked to provide manned and UAV reconnaissance. It has an air force regiment (SLAFR), primarily concerned with airfield defence but also capable of assisting the army in other ground combat tasks. The regiment has a special forces element of about company strength (that is intended to be increased) responsible for unconventional operations, including rescue of downed aircrew and close protection.
Recent and Current Operations
In addition to operations in Sri Lanka, some 48 SLAF personnel serve with the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
Command and control
Commander, Air Force: Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake
Chief of Staff, Air Force: Air Vice Marshal PB Premachandra
Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force: Air Vice Marshal HD Abeywickrama
The SLAF is headed by a three-star Air Marshal, Roshan Goonatilake, who was appointed in 2006. He has a Chief of Staff (Air Vice Marshal) and 11 directors, all of two-star rank with the exception of the Welfare Director, who is an Air Commodore. Bases and instructional establishments are commanded by group captains and wing commanders.
Organisation
Air force HQ is in Colombo. Fixed-wing and helicopter squadrons are concentrated at five main bases and can operate from forward airfields, deploying to these and as required. The level of the insurgency since 2001 has made it necessary for the SLAF to reduce the number of bases in order to maximise physical security, and deployment has been tailored to meet this requirement.
Order of Battle
Unit Base Type Role
2 Squadron Ratmalana An-32 Transport
2 Squadron Ratmalana C-130K Hercules Transport
2 Squadron Ratmalana Cessna 421 Communications
4 Squadron Katunayake Bell 206 VIP Transport
4 Squadron Katunayake Bell 412 VIP Transport
4 Squadron Katunayake Mi-17 VIP Transport
5 Squadron Katunayake MiG-27M Attack
5 Squadron Katunayake MiG-23UB Operational Training
5 Squadron Katunayake F-7 Attack
5 Squadron Katunayake FT-7 Operational Training
5 Squadron Katunayake FT-5 Operational Training
6 Squadron Vavuniya Mi-17 Assault Transport
7 Squadron Hingarukgoda Bell 206 Utility
7 Squadron Hingarukgoda Bell 212 Utility
7 Squadron Hingarukgoda Bell 412 Utility
8 Squadron Ratmalana Y-12 (II) Utility
8 Squadron Ratmalana King Air Surveillance
9 Squadron Hingarukgoda Mi-24 Attack
9 Squadron Hingarukgoda Mi-35 Attack
10 Squadron Katunayake Kfir C2/C7 Air Defence / Attack
10 Squadron Katunayake Kfir TC2 Operational Training
11 Air Surveillance Flight Vavuniya Searcher UAV Reconnaissance
11 Air Surveillance Flight Vavuniya Scout Reconnaissance
14 Squadron Katunayake K-8 Karakorum Advanced Training
1 Flying Training Wing Anuradhapura PT-6 Training
Aircraft Preservation & Storage Unit Ratmalana Various Overhaul and Museum
Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine
The SLAF is geared mainly to support ground and naval forces in counter-insurgency and interdiction operations.
Bases
Anuradhapura (08° 18' 04" N; 80° 25' 41" E)
Hingarukgoda (08° 03' 06" N; 80° 58' 49" E)
Katunayake - Colombo International Airport (07° 10' 52" N; 79° 53' 01" E)
Ratmalana (06° 49' 19" N; 79° 53' 10" E)
Vavuniya (08° 44' 27" N; 80° 29' 52" E)
Other airfields that can be and are used as forward operating locations include Ampara, Batticaloa, China Bay / Trincomalee, Katukurunda, Koggala, Palaly, Palavi, Sigiriya and Wirawila.
Training
The Directorate of Training formulates instructional policy and is responsible for initial, basic and advanced technical training, as well as specialised tuition and instructor training. Initial pilot training is conducted at Anuradhapura by No.1 Flying Training Wing, with advanced pilot training the responsibility of No.14 Squadron at Katunayake (K-8). Engineering and technical instruction takes place at the Basic Trade Training School, Katunayake, followed by further tuition at the Advanced & Specialised Trade Training School, Ekala. Some training is undertaken overseas, notably in the US and India.
Training Areas
The SLAF conducts aerial training in civilian-free airspace throughout the country, excluding the northern area in which the LTTE is active.
Air Force procurement
Combat
The SLAF is adequately equipped with reasonably modern combat aircraft, but is anxious to obtain additional fighters, with a priority 'shopping list' revealed in early 2007 indicating the intent to purchase four F-7s from China, as well as a small number of MiG-29s. Nevertheless, it appears that negotiations for the purchase of a handful of MiG-29SMs (including one MiG-29UB two-seater) were concluded in March 2008, with subsequent reports alluding to arrival in country of at least some of these aircraft by mid-September 2008. Confirmation of this is still awaited, but it is known that six examples of the F-7GS were provided as a gift by China in January 2008 and these are now understood to be operational with No.5 Squadron at Katunayake.
Further purchases of Mi-24/35 'Hind' combat helicopters are anticipated, with at least three examples needed in the short term. In view of the avowed intent to replace aircraft and helicopters destroyed and damaged by the LTTE raid of October 2007, that number may well have increased.
Previously, in December 2006, the SLAF received four overhauled MiG-27 ground-attack aircraft from Ukraine's state-owned defence organisation, Ukrinmash. The four MiG-27s were purchased at a cost of about USD10 million in a government-to-government deal financed by Bellimissa Holdings. More than 20 years old, according to Sri Lankan government officials, they should nevertheless remain in service until about 2013-14. As part of this procurement arrangement, the surviving three MiG-27s (of six delivered) and a MiG-23UB trainer aircraft already in service with the SLAF were overhauled in Ukraine.
Transport
In addition to the more urgent planned acquisitions alluded to above, Sri Lanka had a lower priority requirement for additional transport aircraft and helicopters and expressed a desire to purchase at least two Antonov An-32s and four Mil Mi-17s to augment existing fleets of these types. To this end, Sri Lanka's government ordered several military transport helicopters from Russia in May 2009 "to help the country develop" as the long-running conflict with the LTTE drew to a close. No details about the procurement were revealed, but the acquisition will improve the SLAF's aerial resupply capability in support of major operations.
C4ISR
The wish to acquire additional airborne surveillance and intelligence-gathering capability in the form of two more King Air 200s was made known early in 2007. At that time, these were considered to be a lower-priority item, but the two additional aircraft gained greater importance following destruction of the SIGINT-configured King Air 200 in the Anuradhapura attack of October 2007.
UAV
The SLAF has a specialised reconnaissance unit operating Israeli Searcher and Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), one of which crashed in October 2005. Indian Navy Heron UAVs are used to conduct surveillance in India-Sri Lanka waters and it is presumed that at least some of the information gathered is passed on to Sri Lanka. At least one SLAF UAV was destroyed in the attack on Anuradhapura and this is expected to be replaced, with additional examples almost certain to be obtained to provide enhanced surveillance capability.
Air Defence
Following the launch of air strikes by the LTTE, Sri Lanka moved to upgrade its air defence and airspace surveillance capabilities. A JY-11 3-D radar valued at USD5 million had been ordered from China National Electronics Import Export Corporation in October 2005, but the deal was postponed following Indian protests that this system would "over arch" into Indian air space. To offset this, New Delhi provided two Indra II-PC 2-D radars free of charge and, in April 2007, agreed to deliver a third. Subsequently, with LTTE aircraft posing a modest physical but significant propaganda threat, it was reported, but has not been confirmed independently, that the Chinese radar was acquired and is now in position in Mirigama.
Modernisation
In mid-2006, with the prospect of a sustained civil war looming, Sri Lanka approached Pakistan for assistance for all branches of the armed forces. Sri Lanka is also seeking to enhance reconnaissance capability and indicated a need for a day/night camera pod for use by either the Kfir or F-7, as well as gyro-stabilised, day/night-capable, electro-optical sensors for installation on the King Air 200. Other items on the list of desired equipment include AIM-9P Sidewinder and/or R550 Magic heat-seeking air-to-air missiles, guided missiles for the 'Hind' combat helicopters as well as other munitions, including general purpose, cluster and fragmentation bombs, unguided rockets, 7.62 mm ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades.
Procurement notifications in 2008 included tender requests for Y-12 avionics, Searcher UAV engine spares, and general spares for C-130A/C, Bell 212H/C, and Beech Kings.
Equipment in service
Fixed Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
F-7BS CAC Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 4 3 1991
F-7GS CAC Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 6 61 2008
Kfir C2 IAI Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 9 6 1996
Kfir C7 IAI Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 4 2 2001
MiG-27M Flogger-J2 MiG Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 10 7 2000
King Air 200 HISAR Beech Reconnaissance / Surveillance 1 1 2002
C-130K Hercules C. Mk 1 Lockheed Martin Transport 2 2 2000
An-32 Cline Antonov Transport 10 7 1995
Y-12 (II) HAI Transport 9 4 1987
421 Golden Eagle Cessna Transport 1 12 1981
FT-5 CAC Trainer 2 2 1991
FT-7 GAIC Trainer 1 1 1992
Kfir TC2 IAI Trainer 2 1 1996
MiG-23UB Flogger-C MiG Trainer 1 1 2000
PT-6 HAIC Trainer 10 6 2001
K-8 Karakorum HAIC Trainer 9 5 2001
Notes:
May include one FT-7 two-seater.
Operated by Sri Lanka Survey Department.
Rotary Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
Mi-24V Hind-E Mil Attack 14 31 1998
Mi-24P Hind-F Mil Attack 4 31 n/a
Mi-35P Hind-F Mil Attack 7 41 1998
Mi-17 Hip-H Mil Assault 13 5 1993
206A JetRanger Bell Utility 7 2 1969
206B JetRanger III Bell Utility 2 2 1981
212 Bell Utility 18 5 1981
412 Bell Utility 8 8 1985
Note:
A Mil Mi-24 'Hind' helicopter crashed on 27 November 2009 during a routine training mission, although the variant has not been confirmed.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
Searcher IAI Multirole n/a n/a n/a
Scout IAI Multirole n/a n/a n/a
Missiles
Type Manufacturer Role
PL-2 'Atoll' CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-3 CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-5 CATIC Air-to-Air
UPDATED
Dec-2009
