Sri Lanka Military Aviation

Randy · 16-02-2018, 04:28 AM

Does anyone knows what happend to SU30 MK acquiring plans?? or Buying Medium Strategic Air Lifters or Surveillance Air crafts? BTW SL Navy is upgrading their fleet. Few more big ships will join fleet coming years.. But couldn't see any new plans for Air Force.

Shayansp · 15-02-2018, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by SLD

If SLAF acquired the MIG27s in 2005/2006 why are they grounded?

These are second hand old soviet migs, already very old. When "New" ones were acquired in 2006 it also including overhauling of those aircraft as well as aircraft purchased in 2001 (i think that was the year). This overhaul guaranteed the aircraft a certain number of flying hours for the next 10 years before the aircraft would need another overhaul in order to be deemed safe to fly. (Im not sure which company overhauled them I think it was the same company that supplied them). When those 10 years passed (2016) most aircraft had reached their given flying hours anyway and I think only 2 were flying by 2015. For whatever reason (probably funds and being obsolete) the air force never requested another overhaul of them and quietly grounded them.

LukeSkywalker · 12-02-2018, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by Speedbird

Were they new when they purchased?
Because they are very old

They were already 25+ years old during the time of purchase IIRC. I think they were the stored fleet from Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan? They are probably grounded because parts are expensive to source as it's out of manufacture and not many airforces fly them anymore. I think the Indians were doing some license manufacturering but probably not anymore.

It will also be pointless to restore something that's primary capability is for ground attack. Money could be spent on other assets for air defense.

Speedbird · 12-02-2018, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by SLD

If SLAF acquired the MIG27s in 2005/2006 why are they grounded?

Were they new when they purchased?
Because they are very old

SLD · 12-02-2018, 03:21 PM

If SLAF acquired the MIG27s in 2005/2006 why are they grounded?

Sandaru · 12-02-2018, 03:13 AM

Can someone explain how the SLAF aircraft registration number is formed?

Haleef · 10-02-2018, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by SLD

Nice! Thanks for sharing. That MI-17 Close-up pic and the fighter jets were the best!

Thank you!!

SLD · 10-02-2018, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by Haleef

SLAF's flypast on the 70th Independence Day 2018.
Sorry for the late uploads. Do feel free to leave your comments.

Nice! Thanks for sharing. That MI-17 Close-up pic and the fighter jets were the best!

Haleef · 10-02-2018, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by fdk2008

The beechcraft earlier used to have a HISAR radar system a very advance one,then later they fixed a star safire FLIR. Now it has nothing.

No, no, it has one still! It's just that they remove it when it's not necessary. But, in vain though! They should have fixed it for an occasion like this.