Sri Lanka Air Force

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Sri Lanka Air Force


start_date= 2 March 1951
country= Sri Lanka
allegiance=
branch=
type=
role=
size= 20,000 personnel
165+ aircraft
command_structure=Ministry of Defence
garrison=SLAF Colombo, Colombo
garrison_label=Air Force Headquarters
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname=
motto=සුරකිමු ලකඹර
"Surakimu Lakambara"
Sinhala:"Protect Lankan Skies"
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War
anniversaries= 2 March (Air Force Day)
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander= Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake RWP, USP, ndc, psc, SLAF
current_commander_label= Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders= Air Vice Marshal E R Amarasekara DFC & Bar, RCyAF
Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonatilake USP, ndc, psc, SLAF
identification_symbol=


identification_symbol_label= SLAF Roundel
identification_symbol_2=


identification_symbol_2_label= SLAF Fin flash
aircraft_attack= Mikoyan MiG-27, Mi-35, Mi-24
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter= IAI Kfir, F-7 Skybolt
aircraft_interceptor= F-7 Skybolt
aircraft_recon= RQ-2 Pioneer, IAI Scout
aircraft_patrol= Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
aircraft_trainer=K-8 Karakorum, MiG-23, Nanchang CJ-6 (PT-6), SIAI Marchetti SF.260, Cessna 150
aircraft_transport= C-130 Hercules, Antonov 32, Harbin Y-12, Mi-17, Bell 412, Bell 212, Bell 206

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is the aerial defence division and the youngest of the Sri Lankan Tri Forces. Founded in 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF), it relied on the British Royal Air Force (RAF) for its earliest equipment, training, and commanders. The Air Force plays a major role in the ongoing Sri Lankan Civil War. Although Sri Lanka is only a small island state, its Air Force has a long history of involvement in the war. A force commander leads the service and its operational headquarters are located in Colombo. The Sri Lanka Air Force has expanded to specialize mainly in providing air-support to ground forces, troop landing and carrying out air strikes on rebel-held areas in the Northern and Eastern theatres.

The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Mission Statement

The mission statement of the Sri Lanka Air Force is cquote|""'Establishing an Air Force of high operational efficiency to preserve the Sovereignty of Sri Lanka. [ [http://www.ariforce.lk/ Sri Lanka Air Force Official website] ]

History

In its early years, the air force was engaged primarily in immigration patrol, with occasional assistance in emergency relief. During the insurgency of 1971, the air force played a major role in restoring internal order; in addition to providing transport of ammunition, food, and troops, it participated in assaults against insurgent strongholds. Following the ethnic rioting of 1983, the air force was placed on permanent active status and participated in counter-insurgency activities and air strikes on the rebel-controlled areas of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Early Days

Early administration and training was carried out by (RAF) officers and other personnel, who where seconded to the RCyAF.The first aircraft of the RCyAF were de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks used as basic trainers. These were followed by Boulton Paul Balliol T.Mk.2s and Airspeed Oxford Mk.1s for advanced training of pilots and aircrew along with de Havilland Doves and de Havilland Herons for transport use, all provided by the British. The first helicopter type to be added to the service was the Westland Dragonfly. These were supplemented in the 1960s with various other aircraft, most notably American Bell Jetranger helicopters and a Hindustan HUL-26 Pushpak gifted by India.

In 1959 de Havilland Vampire jet aircraft were acquired. However the RCyAF did not put them into operational use and soon replaced them with five Hunting Jet Provosts obtained from the British, which were formed into the No. 5 Jet Squadron. These were used during the 1971 Insurrection, the first time the Royal Ceylon Air Force went into combat. [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h2c1p2.htm The Night of April 5th] ]

During this insurgency, the left-leaning Bandaranaike government turned to the Soviet Union for more sophisticated weaponry, and received five Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F fighter bombers, a MiG-15 UTI trainer, as well as two Kamov Ka-26 helicopters meant for search and rescue and casualty evacuation. The RAF's heavy transports also flew in six Bell 47G helicopters purchased from the United States, which were put in to combat as soon as possible after only five days of pilot training. [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h2c1p3.htm Air Attack] ] Air Force troops joined in ground operations and when the insurgents surrendered after about a month's fighting the SLAF was in charge of three of the many rehabilitation camps setup for insurgents.

Because of a shortage of funds for military expenditures in the wake of the 1971 uprising, the No. 4 Helicopter Squadron began operating commercial transportation services for foreign tourists under the name of Helitours [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h2c2p2.htm Helitours] ] . In 1987 the air force had a total strength of 3,700 personnel, including active reserves. The force had grown gradually during its early years, reaching a little over 1,000 officers and recruits in the 1960s.

With the closure of Air Ceylon in 1978, its Hawker Siddeley HS 748 transport aircraft was taken over by the SLAF. By the early 1980s, the Provosts and all of the Soviet aircraft had been taken out of active service and were relegated to long-term storage, leaving the air force without any fighter/bomber capability.

Rapid growth began in the mid-1980s, when the Sri Lankan Civil War against Tamil separatists drew the service into a major, long-term security role. During the Eelam War I conflict between 1983 and 1987, the force grew by nearly 50 percent.

As in the other services, a shortage of spare parts plagued maintenance efforts, forcing the service to send a number of aircraft to Singapore and elsewhere for repairs. After the purchase of equipment from Canada in 1986, the air force gained the capability to make structural repairs on its fleet of Bell helicopters, several of which had been damaged in operations against the Tamil separatists. Maintenance of electronic equipment was performed at the communications station at Ekala, in the north of Colombo District.

1980's & 1990's

After the 1983 riots, the government worked rapidly to expand the inventory, relying largely on sources in Italy, Britain, and the United States. Because of tight budget constraints, the air force was compelled to refit a number of non-combat aircraft for military uses in counter-terrorism operations against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorists. From the period 1983 to 1985, the Air Force acquired 11 Bell 212 helicopters, four Bell 412 helicopters, three SIAI Marchetti SF.260s, two Cessna 337s, one Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and two Beechcraft Super King Airs. By 1985, nine more Bell 212s were added to the fleet, along with four Bell 412s. The 412s along with the SIAI Marchetti SF.260 aircraft advanced the attack capabilities of the SLAF. Central in the government's security efforts were six SIAI Marchetti SF.260TP turboprops which were used for rocket attacks and strafing. Additionally, the air force, with the help of Heli Orient of Singapore, equipped twelve Bell 212 and Bell 412 helicopters to serve as gunships and as transport vehicles for highly successful commando assault operations. The air force had a fleet of approximately eighty aircraft, of which sixty-four were reported to be operational in early 1988.

Government forces reportedly also used helicopters on bombing missions. A more effective bombing capability was provided by a small fleet of Chinese Harbin Y-12 turboprop transport aircraft. These were equipped with bomb racks that had been fitted to carry up to 1,000 kilograms of fragmentation and antipersonnel bombs. Transport, training, and surveying functions were carried out by a variety of Cessna and de Havilland aircraft. In 1987 during the Vadamarachchi Operation the air force mustered one HS 748, two Y-12s and one de Havilland Heron, all configured as improvised bombers. On 3 September 1987 a Women's Wing was formed and located in Colombo. The first CO was Air Cdre D.S.G. Vithana. The Women's Wing was set up to maintain and update all records pertaining to female officers and airwomen, prepare promotional schedules, annual assessments, issue identity cards, etc. [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h3c4p1.htm. The roar of Jets once again] ]

In order to increase the attack capability the air force in 1991 acquired four F-7 Skybolts, three FT-7s and two Shenyang J-5s from China. Later in 1993 the first of three Mil Mi-17 helicopter transports [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h3c5p2.htm Old Wings New Wings] ] were acquired along with four FMA IA 58 Pucarás for ground attack. These proved to be effective but three of the Pucara's were lost, two due Surface-to-air missiles launched by the LTTE. The sole remaining Pucara was retired in 1999 due to lack of spare parts. In 1995 Mil Mi-24 gunships were acquired for close air support for the army and by 2001 Mil Mi-35s were added to the fleet. [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h3c6p1.htm MI-24 Joined SLAF] ]

In 1996 the SLAF acquired six Kfir C.2s and a single TC.2 from Israel [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h3c6p2.htm Of Kfirs and UAVs] ] and a further nine of these aircraft had been added to the inventory by 2005. This included four C.2s and four C.7s in 2001 . Currently the SLAF operates two C.7s, eight C.2s and two TC.2s. The SLAF is using these Kfirs to launch attacks against Tamil separatist targets in rebel-controlled areas of the island.

21st century

In 2000 new aircraft were acquired; apart from the additions of Kfir C.7s and Mi-35s, these included six Mikoyan MiG-27 dedicated ground attack aircraft (obtained due to lack of specialized ground attack aircraft since the retirement of the Pucarás), a MiG-23UB trainer and two C-130 Hercules for heavy transport. Six K-8 Karakorum trainers were soon bought from Pakistan creating the No. 14 Squadron to train pilots for the newly-expanded fleet of jets.

On 24 July 2001, thirteen aircraft including two Kfir jet fighters, one Mi-24 helicopter gunship and one MiG-27 jet fighter, were destroyed in the predawn attack by the LTTE on the SLAF Katunayake air base, about 35 km. north of Colombo. Three military training aircraft and five civilian jets were also among the destroyed aircraft. [http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=6183] Many of these aircraft were replaced.

Sri Lanka's airport has remained on alert for a repeat of the 2001 attack, with severe restrictions on the number of people allowed into the terminal buildings. Huge walls were also built around the terminals and the control towers to prevent impact from car bomb attacks, while a large number of sentries were placed along the approach roads to the facility. All airports including the Katunayake International Airport are heavily guarded by members of the SLAF Regiment.

Currently the SLAF operates three FT-7, three F-7BS, six F-7G, two Kfir TC.2s, two Kfir C.7s, eight Kfir C.2s, seven Mig-27s and one MIG-23UB trainer. [ [http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070320_01 MIG 27-Inside Story, Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka] ] The SLAF uses these ground-attack aircraft on attacks against Tamil separatist targets in rebel-controlled areas of the island.

In the early hours of October 22 2007 a ground attack by the LTTE on SLAF Base Anuradhapura at Saliyapura, which was supported briefly by its air wing, resulted in the destruction of eight aircraft with several others damaged. [ [http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071024_07 Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka] ] The attack only affected the SLAF's training element. Early in 2008 the air force received six F-7Gs, these will be primarily used as interceptors and are attached to the No.5 Jet Squadron [ [http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/02/f-7g-fighters-to-counter-tiger-air.html F-7G fighters to counter tiger air threat] ] .

Major combat operations

The Air Force has supported the Sri Lanka Army in all major operations carried undertaken by them;

Organisation

Air Force Headquarters

The professional head of the air force is the Commander of the Air Force, at present Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake who reports directly to the Minister of Defence. The Commander of the Air Force exercises operational and administrative control of the air force from air force headquarters, SLAF Colombo. He is assisted by the Chief of Staff, at present Air Vice Marshal P.B. Premachandra, who along with Directors comprise the Board of Directors (BOD) of the Sri Lanka Air Force [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h3c4p1.htm. A Major Administrative Change - The Zonal concept] ] .

Zonal Commands

The air force has four zonal commands, each under the control of an air officer for effective command and administrative control. This is in order to efficiently command and control all flying squadrons, aircraft and air defences. Zonal Commanders are responsible for both air and ground operations that have been decided upon by the Directorate of Operations at Air Force HQ. ;Four Zonal Commands
*Eastern Zonal Command
*Northern Zonal Command
*Southern Zonal Command
*Western Zonal Command

Flying Squadrons

*No. 1 Flying Training Wing
*No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron
*No. 4 (VIP) Helicopter Squadron
*No. 5 Jet Squadron
*No. 6 Helicopter Squadron
*No. 7 Helicopter Squadron
*No. 8 Light Transport Squadron
*No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron
*No. 10 Fighter Squadron
*No. 11 UAV Flight
*No. 12 Interceptor Squadron
*No. 14 Squadron

Branches and Trades

*General Duties Pilot Branch - Pilots and Navigators (commissioned officers)
*Administrative Branch - Administrative Officers and associated trades are involved with training management, physical education, catering, infrastructure management, accounts, dress and discipline, personnel and recruitment. Also includes;
**Legal Branch
**SLAF Band
*Operations Air Branch - Fighter Controllers and Air Traffic Controllers control SLAF aircraft from the ground as well as combat ground units.
*Technical Signal Branch - Mainitains SLAF communications includes Air Signallers.
*Engineering Branch - Engineering Officers and technicians are employed to maintain and repair the equipment used by the RAF. Also includes;
**Equipment Branch
**Air Field Construction Branch
*SLAF Regiment - Officers and Gunners, they have infantry, paratrooper and light armoured units to protect against ground attack and defend against air attack with ground-to-air defence units.
**SLAF Regiment Special Force - The elite special forces unit of the SLAF.
*Air Force Police - Military police of the SALF and are located wherever the SLAF is located.
*SLAF Women's Wing
*Medical & Dental Branch

Aircraft Inventory

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Role! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service [ [http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/srilanka/index.php Sri Lankan military aviation OrBat] ]
-----! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack and Offensive Support Aircraft
-----
IAI Kfir
flagcountry|Israel
Fighter-bomber----
Conversion Trainer
C2/C7----TC2|9----2
-----
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27
flagcountry|Soviet Union
Ground-attack aircraft
Flogger-D (MiG-27M)
7
-----
Chengdu F-7
flagcountry|China
Interceptor----
Fighter-bomber----Conversion Trainer
F-7G----F-7BS----FT-7
6----3----3
-----! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Reconnaissance and Maritime Patrol Aircraft
-----
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
flagcountry|United States
Maritime Reconnaissance

1
-----
Beechcraft 200
flagcountry|United States
Maritime Reconnaissance
200T
1
-----
RQ-2 Pioneer
flagcountry|United States/
flagcountry|Israel
Unmanned aerial vehicle |
N/K
-----
IAI Scout
flagcountry|Israel
Unmanned aerial vehicle |
N/K
-----! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft
-----
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
flagcountry|United States
Tactical Airlift/Transport
C-130K (L-382)
2
-----
Antonov An-32
flagcountry|Soviet Union
Tactical Airlift/Transport
An-32B
7
-----
Harbin Y-12
flagcountry|China
Utility aircraft/Trainer|
7
-----! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack Helicopters
-----
Mil Mi-24
flagcountry|Soviet Union
Attack Helicopter
Mi-35P/Mi-24V/Mi-24P/Mi-24N
13
-----! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Support and Transport Helicopters
-----
Mil Mi-17
flagcountry|Soviet Union
Troop Transport
Hip-H
10
-----
Bell 412
flagcountry|United States
Utility Helicopter/VIP Transport
412EP
7
-----
Bell 212 Twin Huey
flagcountry|United States
Troop Transport/MEDEVAC|
9
-----
Bell 206 JetRanger
flagcountry|United States
Light Utility Helicopter/Trainer
206A/B
5
-----! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
-----
Hongdu K-8 Karakorum
flagcountry|China/
flagcountry|Pakistan
Advanced Jet Trainer

6
-----
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
flagcountry|Soviet Union
Conversion Trainer
MiG-23UB
1
-----
Nanchang CJ-6
flagcountry|China
Intermediate Prop Trainer
PT-6
6
-----
Cessna 150
flagcountry|United States
Basic Trainer
150L
10

Training

Under the auspices of the British Royal Air Force, flight training was first offered to Royal Ceylon Air Force pilots at RAF Negombo, an RAF air base at Katunayake, in 1952. In addition, a number of cadet officers received flight training at the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell, England. After the British withdrew from their military facilities in Sri Lanka in 1967, the No 1 Squadron (Flight Training School) was established at the SLAF China Bay in Trincomalee. With the increase in Tamil separatist activities in the mid-1980s, the air force stepped up its training activities, bringing in foreign pilots to assist in the helicopter training program.

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) formed in 1981 and situated in Ratmalana, fourteen kilometers south of Colombo, is Sri Lanka's only university specializing in defense studies. Each year, approximately fifty cadets from all three services are admitted to the university (aged 18-22) to participate in a three-year program of academic work and basic training. [ [http://www.kda.lk/files/cadets%20training%20wing/cadets%20life.htm training] ]

Senior officers of the ranks of Squadron Leader and Wing Commander are given advanced training and education at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) at Batalanda, Makola which was established in 1997 as the Army Command and Staff College.

Basic officer training is carried out at the Air Force Academy at the SLAF China Bay in Trincomalee. The academy offers a two-year program of basic flight training and a variety of specialized courses. Pilot training is carried out at SLAF Anuradhapura by No. 1 Flying Training Wing using Cessna 150s for basic training and Nanchang CJ-6 (PT-6) aircraft for intermediate training. Advanced jet training is carried out by the No. 14 Squadron in K-8 Karakorums based at SLAF Katunayake. Specialized training for different types of aircraft is carried out by the respective Squadrons, this includes MiG-23UB, FT-7 and Kfir TC.2 are used by the No. 5 Jet Squadron and No. 10 Fighter Squadron respectively, for this propose at SLAF Katunayake and for training for transports, Harbin Y-12s of the No. 8 Light Transport Squadron are used along with Bell 206s for helicopter training. [ [http://www.airforce.lk/org/dops/dops.htm www.airforce.lk] ]

Initial Ground Combat Training for both officers and other ranks of both regular and volunteer forces, are carried out separately at SLAF Diyatalawa in the garrison town of Diyatalawa, it also conducts advanced training for SLAF regiment officer cadets. Following training at SLAF Diyatalawa, general pilot branch officer cadets are sent to the Air Force Academy for flight training, and airmen and airwomen are sent to Advanced & Specialized Trade Training School for specialized training in different trades. Air traffic controllers receive schooling at special facilities in Colombo as well as officer cadets from other branches. In addition, approximately twenty-five officers a year receive advanced training abroad, most commonly in Britain, India and, in recent years, at the United States Air Force Academy.

;Training establishments
*Air Force Academy - SLAF China Bay
*Training Wing - SLAF Diyatalawa
*Advanced & Specialized Trade Training School - SLAF Ekala
*Combat Training School - SLAF China Bay
*Junior Command & Staff College - SLAF China Bay
*NCO Management School - SLAF China Bay
*Basic Trade Training School - SLAF Katunayake
*Regimental Training Centre - SLAF Ampara
*Gunner Training School - SLAF Palaly

;Training Squadrons
*No. 1 Flying Training Wing - SLAF Anuradhapura
*No. 14 Squadron - SLAF Katunayake

LAF Regiment

The Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment is a ground combat corps within the Sri Lanka Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. Effectively, its members are the SLAF's soldiers. SLAF Regiment is responsible for protecting all its air bases and installations using infantry and light armored units. Ground based air defense of vital military and civil installations is carried out by this Regiment.

LAF Regiment Special Force

Regiment Special Force is an elite Special Forces unit of the Sri Lanka Air Force, part of the SLAF Regiment. It provides highly effective land base defence and beyond forward defence line assault capabilities.

Air Force Police

Air Force Police (AFP) is responsible for maintaining discipline and enforcement of law and order within the SLAF and its establishments. Members of the AFP are distinguished by their white-topped caps and red 'AFP' flashes on the sleeve of their uniforms.

Personnel

Notable fallen members

* Air Commodore Shirantha Goonatilake KIA - Commanding Officer, Flying Training Wing [http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice] ]
* Group Captain Roger Weerasinghe KIA - Commanding Officer, No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron
* Wing Commander Thilina Kaluarachchi KIA - Commanding Officer, No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron

Women in the Sri Lanka Air Force

The first female officers to join the air force were in 1972, to the Volunteer Air Force [ [http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h2c2p2.htm Helitours] ] , today women are recruited to both the regular and volunteer forces as both officers and airwomen to the SLAF Women's Wing. However there are no female pilots in the air force. Although female officers are not able to join the general duties pilot branch, they can join any other branch including the SLAF Regiment and the Air Force Police.

ee also

*Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force
*Military ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Air Force
*Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment
*Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment Special Force
*Sri Lankan Civil War

Further reading

*TENNEKOON, E. V., & DE SILVA, M. (1994). "The History of the Sri Lanka Air Force". Colombo, Commander, Sri Lanka Air Force. ISBN 955-9256-00-9

References

External links

* [http://www.defence.lk/ Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka]
* [http://www.airforce.lk Sri Lanka Air Force]
* [http://www.kda.lk/ General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy]
* [http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/Sri_Lanka.htm Chronological Listing of Ceylonese / Sri-Lankan Flight Ejections]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/681835/ The Former Far East Air Force]
* [http://japuraalwis.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/ltte-air-craft-shot-down-by-air-force/ CYBER BALUMGALA: LTTE Aircraft shot down by SLAF]