Sri Lanka Air Force

Sri Lanka Air Force
Founded	2 March 1951
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Armed Forces
Size	28,700 personnel 200+ aircraft
Part of	Ministry of Defence
Air Force Headquarters	SLAF Colombo, Colombo
Motto	සුරකිමු ලකඹර Surakimu Lakambara Sinhala:"Protect Lankan Skies"
Anniversaries	2 March (Air Force Day)
Engagements	1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War
Commanders
Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force	Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonatilake RWP, USP, ndc, psc, SLAF
Notable commanders	Air Vice Marshal E R Amarasekara DFC & Bar, RCyAF Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonatilake USP, ndc, psc, SLAF
Insignia
SLAF Roundel
SLAF Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Attack	Mikoyan MiG-27 Mil Mi-24
Fighter	IAI Kfir F-7 Skybolt
Interceptor	F-7 Skybolt
Patrol	Beechcraft Super King Air Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
Reconnaissance	IAI Searcher EMIT Blue Horizon 2
Trainer	K-8 Karakorum Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Nanchang CJ-6 (PT-6) Cessna 150 Bell 206
Transport	C-130 Hercules Antonov An-32 Harbin Y-12 Mil Mi-17 Bell 212 Bell 412

Aircraft Inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Role	Versions	In service
Attack and Offensive Support Aircraft
IAI Kfir	Israel	fighter-bomber conversion trainer	C2/C7 TC2	10 2
Mikoyan MiG-27	Russia[18]	ground-attack aircraft	MiG-27M Flogger-D	7
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23	Russia[18]	conversion trainer	MiG-23UB	1
Chengdu F-7 Airguard	China	interceptor conversion trainer	F-7GS F-7BS FT-7	6 3 3
Reconnaissance and Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle	United States	maritime reconnaissance		1
Beechcraft 200T Super King Air	United States	maritime reconnaissance	200T	2
IAI Searcher Mk II	Israel	unmanned aerial vehicle		N/K
EMIT Blue Horizon II	Israel	unmanned aerial vehicle		4
Transport Aircraft
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical airlift/transport	C-130K (L-382)	2
Antonov An-32	Ukraine	tactical airlift/transport	An-32B	7
Harbin Y-12	China	utility aircraft/trainer	Y-12 / Y-12(IV)	9
Xian MA60	China	tactical airlift/transport	MA-60	6
Attack Helicopters
Mil Mi-24	Russia	attack helicopter	Mi-35P/Mi-24V/Mi-24P/Mi-24N	14
Support and Transport Helicopters
Mil Mi-17	Russia	troop transport	Mi-17	10
Bell 412	United States	utility helicopter/VIP transport	412EP	7
Bell 212 Twin Huey	United States	troop transport/MEDEVAC		9
Bell 206 JetRanger	United States	light utility helicopter/trainer	206A/B	5
Trainer Aircraft
Hongdu K-8 Karakorum	China/ Pakistan	advanced jet trainer		6
Nanchang CJ-6	China	Basic Prop Trainer	PT-6	8
Cessna 150	United States	Basic Trainer	150L	10

Future equipment

Immediate procurement plans

According to the June 2009 issue of Airforces Monthly, two Harbin Y-12 IV transports with weather radar are being procured as existing Y-5s lack this capability. An additional Beechcraft Super King Air is also being procured as well as two additional CJ-6 training aircraft; currently only two are operational. Further Mil Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters are also being procured in a recent deal with Russia. According to the July 2009 edition of Airforces Monthly, four Mi-17 helicopters have been purchased although the numbers of Mi-24 being bought was not disclosed. Six MA60 transport aircraft are also being procured from China.

Long term procurement plans

Since 2007, the Sri Lanka Air Force has been planning to increase its interceptor capability with the acquisition of Mikoyan MiG-29s from Russia. It also hopes to expand its maritime patrols with long range aircraft suited for the purpose, and re-establish No. 3 Maritime Squadron.

Also according to the June 2009 issue of Airforces Monthly the aging Mig-27s and Kfirs may also be retired in the near future with the winding down of combat operations. The favoured replacement will be the Mig-29; despite rumours none have yet been inducted into the air force. The air force is also looking at procurement of a dedicated maritime patrol aircraft.