Sri Lanka Air Force

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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-17V-5
Mi-171Sh
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

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)

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 (--)

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

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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