Sri Lanka Military Aviation

Happy 69th Independence Day Sri Lanka!

Enjoy the pictures of the Independence day flypast taken by me at Mount Lavinia beach and at Ratmalana airport
Please do not re-upload with my permission.

Cessna 150L


Bell 212, 412


Mil Mi-17


Nanchang PT-6


Harbin Y-12


Beechcraft B200T


C-130, AN-32b and MA-60


Karakorum K-8


F-7GS


IAI Kfir C2


Karakorum K-8


Beechcraft B200T


Beechcraft B200T


C-130, AN-32b and MA-60


Antonov AN-32b


C-130 Hercules


C-130 Hercules


Thank you for viewing!

Yes. The Air Force will be having their 66th Anniversary with an airshow for the Public. Will keep you posted on the confirmed dates. One of an air force friend of mine quoted that it might be on the 4th, 5th and 6th, but he isn't very much sure. This time they are hoping to have a grand ceremony as I heard

Hey do u guys have any idea of any airshows that will be held to commemorate the anniversary of our airforce on 2nd March this year?

I don't think its Y20. It should be two more MA 60 or Harbon Y 12. PM didn't mention the aircraft type though. Previously there are several reports about SL is gonna buy two used modified C130 (http://www.slguardian.org/2016/06/sr...e-c-130k-scam/) but government postponed that plan due to cost, then how we gonna buy Y20?? Y20 is like C17 Globemaster. I think it should be better SL would go for C130s.

About Fighter Jets, In this Budget debate PM mention that they are going to buy two squadrons of multi-role fighters for SLAF. Yeah Gripen is costly..! but it would be nice to see. I think they will choose all weather friend "Russia". Its great if they select SU30. ("Please don't choose Thejas "Lets pray :P )

Is this for real? Or just some partisan reporting by the Chinese media to drum up support for the Y-20?

China’s newly developed Xian Y-20 would be in contention if Sri Lanka is looking to buy more Chinese military transport craft, making it one of the first countries outside China to get the new plane. That would mark a new high for Sino-Sri Lankan relations that have been on the mend since Wickremesinghe’s government put the brakes on big-ticket Chinese projects soon after it came to...

http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopol...ting-new-wings

Interestingly the PM has also mentioned China, India, Sweden and Russia have made offers, we are studying them for jet fighters. Not sure what the Swedish offer was, the new Gripen is quite costly compared to the other competitors, unless SAAB provided some lease option for older jets like the agreement with Hungary.

Could be Su-30 or upgraded versions of the Mig-29. The Mig-29SMT looks like a quite capable aircraft and cheaper than the Su-30.

Personally I hope this does go through. If we're going to buy jets anyway I'd much rather get Russian fighters than the JF-17 or Tejas.

Russia offers a new credit line to Sri Lanka



Sri Lanka will soon reach an agreement with Russia to get a new credit line of US$ 300 -400 million from that country to buy military equipment for the armed forces and the Sri Lanka police. The deal is to be finalized following the ongoing discussions between the Russian authorities and the Sri Lankan embassy officials in Russia, government sources said.

This seems to be happening in the background silently parallel to the 'international tender' to purchase multi role fighters. I am not sure if the 'tender' was just a ploy to appease our neighbours.

The credit line amount does not make sense for a new jets so I am not sure if the airforce is picking up refurbished ones if this is in fact for the aircraft deal. Hopefully it's the SU-30 or we will be going through 'aircraft is obsolete' cycle in a few years time.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/168...t#.V7B7TvxLqko

MiG 29 and SU 30 could be on the menu

Currently only 3 fighters (1 Kffir and 2 F7)are operational in Sri lanka air force and they all are vintage 2nd generation air crafts. I think this decision is late. Country is in debt, but this decision is much important rather than importing high luxury vehicles to politicians. Air Force need to maintain at least one squadron.

SL need to go for JF 17, MiG-29 SMT or Su 27.

I smell something fishy here!
The country is so much in debt, and the VAT was increased...

Suddenly what made the multi-role fighter jets a priority?

Cabinet approves new fighter jets

http://www.dailymirror.lk/113921/Cab...w-fighter-jets

There are better and cheaper alternates, than the 28 Million $ for the JF-17. With Russian Engines which last only that long.

Like the BAe Hawk or the equivalents.

I am not sure what's the need to get air defense fighters, while not saying you don't need fighters.

Reality is, if there is a war with any country nearby or far, the SLAF may be swamped very soon.

Alternate would be to keep the air force trim and tight with the likes of BAe Hawk or similar aircraft and keep the currency on COIN. And build on strategic air lift ability.

As for PAF considering JF 17 as front line, well, they have to, since it is the only operator and nobody wants to buy it. Though the F16 with the proven integration of weapons will give the JF 17 a good run for the money.

Technology transfer ? Again, transfer which technology ?

When times were bad, Russian and such planes were good, as they got the job done, for a cheaper purchase price but low reliability and less MTBF.

When there is no immediate need, focus should be on getting better equipment, with greater reliability.

That's my 2 cents.

SLAF needs new aircraft. SLAF has probably the oldest rust buckets flying around in the region. The outdated kFirs and MiG 27s which are the backbone of the current fleet require replacements.

We all know how "Business" is done in Sri Lanka...

This is nothing more than another "wealth transfer" of public funds to family, friends and cronies. This has nothing to do with SLAF requirements.

Remember the MiG deal?

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala

Also Pakistani Prime Minister along with a delegation took off for Kandy on two SLAF MI 17 VVIP Helicopters. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit the historic city of Kandy.