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ශ්රී ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව (Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva)
| Anuradhapura |
| Bria |
| Colombo/Bandaranaike Intl |
| Colombo/Ratmalana |
| Ekala/SLAF Trade Training School |
| Hingurakgoda/Minneriya |
| Trincomalee/China Bay |
| Vavunia |
Relatively recently 4 Mi-171Sh and 10 Mi-171E, like this SMH-4424, were added to the fleet.
Wim Sonneveld
Flight training is done with the Chinese built PT-6A. Over the years 18 were received.
Paul van der Linden
|
Anuradhapura (VCCA) |
|||
RWY 05/23 POS 08°18'05"N 080°25'40"E ELEV 325 ft | |||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| 6 Helicopter Squadron | Mi-17 Mi-171 Mi-17V-5 |
Forward to the Battle |  |
| Overhaul of Mi-17 fleet only?
6sq has/had 3 flights, 61 flight at Ratmalana, 62 flight for UNMISS South Sudan (discontinued), and 63 flight for MINUSCA Central African Republic. | |||
High performance, when needed, is provided by the Kfir. Since 2021, a program runs to refurbish and revive the surviving airframes.
Erwin van Dijkman
Apart from the Kfir, the Chinese-built F-7 is used, in two variants. This F-7GS is the most modern one. Also, four BS were delivered.
Erwin van Dijkman
|
Bria (FEFR) |
|||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| 6 Helicopter Squadron, 63 Flight |
Mi-171Sh | |
|
| Deployed in support of MINUSCA. | |||
All the Bell 412s have the same serial. Currently, that is SUH-522.
Paul van der Linden
Over the years, SLAF used several Jet Rangers. This blue SHT-556 is the latest arrival.
Wim Sonneveld
|
Colombo/Bandaranaike Intl (VCBI) Katunayake |
|||
RWY 04/22 POS 07°10'52"N 079°53'02"E ELEV 29 ft | |||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| 2 Heavy Transport Squadron | An-32 C-130K Ce421 (wfu) |
Unique Service |  |
| 5 Jet Squadron | F-7BS F-7GS FT-7 |
Black Drongos / Bravely to the Sky |  |
| 10 Jet Squadron | Kfir (T)C2 Kfir C7 |
Lion Cubs / Dominate the Sky |  |
| Aircraft Engineering Wing | various types | Anticipation is Excellence |  |
| Aircraft Overhaul Wing | overhaul of Chinese aircraft tyoes |  |
|
| The MiG-23/27s of 12 Squadron have been withdrawn from use since mid-2014. | |||
2 Heavy transport squadron relies mainly on the An-32B.
Paul van der Linden
While 8 Light transport squadron has the Yun 12 as main type.
Paul van der Linden
|
Colombo/Ratmalana (VCCC) |
|||
RWY 04/22 POS 06°49'19"N 079°53'10"E ELEV 22 ft | |||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| 4 (VIP) Helicopter Squadron | Bell 212 Bell 412(EP) Mi-171E |
Anywhere, Anytime, Safely |  |
| 8 Light Transport Squadron | Beech B200T MA60 Y-12 |
Constant Service |  |
| 6 Helicopter Squadron, 61 Flight |
Mi-171E | Forward to the Battle | |
| Aircraft Preservation & Storage Unit (AP&SU) | various types (including museum) | Our Heritage, Our Wealth |  |
Eighteen Bell 212 were delivered.
Erwin van Dijkman
No.8 squadron has two former RAF Hercules.
Wim Sonneveld
|
Ekala/SLAF Trade Training School (--) |
|||
RWY (none) POS 07°06'51"N 079°54'22"E ELEV 37 ft | |||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| Trade Training School | various i/a | Technology for Achievement |  |
|
Hingurakgoda/Minneriya (VCCH) |
|||
RWY 07/25 POS 08°02'59"N 080°58'53"E ELEV 150 ft | |||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| 7 Helicopter Squadron | Bell 206 Bell 212 |
With Will, Nothing Impossible |  |
| 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron | Mi-24P/V (wfu) Mi-35P/V (wfu) Mi-171Sh |
Instantly, Surprise |  |
| The last flight of a Mi-24/35 took place in June 2014 and there are currently no plans to reinstate them into active service. | |||
SLAF has relied a long time on its Mi-24/35 fleet to combat insurgents. Now all airframes await overhaul.
Wim Sonneveld
Contrasting the brutal Mi-24 is the deminutive Ce150 used for basic flying training within SLAF.
Paul van der Linden
|
Trincomalee/China Bay (VCCT) |
|||
RWY 06/24 POS 08°32'20"N 081°10'53"E ELEV 6 ft | |||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| 1 Flying Training Wing | K-8 PT-6A (CJ-6A) Ce150 |
Competent Training, Dedicated Service |  |
| 3 Maritime Squadron | Beech 200 Do228(HAL)-MPA |
Vigilance for Protection |  |
| In the past the tasks of 3 squadron were passed on to 8 squadron. On 11 January 2019, 3(MR)sq was reestablished. | |||
No.3(MR)sq operates one HAL-Do228 on 12 month lease stints from India. The serial SMR-846 is used for these machines, a second one is pending.
Fernando Asiri
Apart from the Dornier, 3sq also uses a single Beech B200T SMR-843 at China Bay. Two KA350/360 are to be added to the fleet shortly
Wim Sonneveld
|
Vavunia (VCCV) |
|||
RWY 05/23 POS 08°44'28"N 080°29'53"E ELEV 299 ft | |||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
| 111 Air Surveillance Squadron | IAI Scout IAI Searcher Mk.II |
Traverse the Skies with Watchful Eyes |  |
| 112 Air Surveillance Squadron | IAI Blue Horizon Mk.II | |
|
F7s form the backbone of the air force.
Paul van der Linden
Sri Lanka buys a lot of their hardware in China. Not surprisingly, jet trainer of choice is the K-8.
Paul van der Linden
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