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) |
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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) |
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Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Motto | Badge |
6 Helicopter Squadron, 63 Flight |
Mi-17V-5 Mi-171Sh |
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Deployed to the Central African Republic in support of MINUSCA. Codes UNO-3xxP. |
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 |
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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 | ||
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) |
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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 Beech 360ER 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 (--) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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 | |
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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) |
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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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