Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Sorry for the delay..



It is highly unlikely the LTTE will be able to duplicate the kind of successes seen in IRAQ. This is primarily because the tactics/threat scenarios used/faced by the SLAF in the Sri Lankan theatre are completely different to what our guys are experiencing in IRAQ.

Our helicopters are a vital part of our military effort in IRAQ because road travel has become perilous. Even in BAGHDAD, our soldiers commute between bases by helicopter, skimming barely 150 feet above the roof tops to evade insurgent fire - the most widely used technique for avoiding hits on helicopters has been nap-of-the-earth flight and terrain masking, as this denies line of sight tracking and weapon aiming or guidance.

A majority of the losses inflicted on us have been because of our low-altitude operations (150 feet). This height corridor is ideal for RPG and heavy caliber gunners. The unguided weapons used against us thus far have been 7.62mm AK-47/AKM, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), machine guns - especially the 50 calibre class weapons, 23mm guns like the ZU-23-2.

At distances of tens to hundreds of yards an RPG-7 can be a much more dangerous threat than a MANPAD worth a hundred times the value of the grenade launcher round - although at hundreds of yards the accuracy of the RPG will decline considerably.

The reason our helicopters fly this low is because a majority of our AH-64's and UH-60's in IRAQ lack a credible MAW's system. These aircraft still use the AN/ALQ-144(V) - omni-directional IR jamming system - as their primary deterrent against optically cued MANPAD's. Even though the AN/ALQ-144(V) system is very effective against 1st and early 2nd generation MANPAD's, against the missile's used by Iraqi insurgents (SA-16, SA-18, MISAGH-1 and MISAGH-2) the system has been found to be less effective. Another disadvantage of flying this low is the inability to effectively discharge flares - lack of airspace to disperse and decoy missiles. Additionally, we don't use them over civilian areas due to the fire risk, which makes it easier for insurgents to hide and use MANPAD's.

Obviously, based on recent events, we are already making adjustments to our tactics and techniques and procedures as to how we employ our helicopters in support of our ground troops - we are making those appropriate changes.

Here are some videos if your interested:

Here is the video of the attack on the Blackhawk on the 20th January :
(You can see 2x 14.5 mm AAA guns and hear a RPG launch)


Here is the video of the attack on the Apache on the 2nd February :
(You can hear the noise of a MANPAD launch just before the target is hit)


Here is a video of our marines defending an OH-58D crash site :


Here is a video of insurgents firing RPG's and machine guns at two Blackhawk's:


A video showing a CH-46 being shot down by a MANPAD (Not February 7th incident):


Now considering the Sri Lankan situation and the Thamil Tiger threat - The SLAF I believe have a very capable MAW system based on ELTA's EL/M-2160 Pulse Doppler Radar. Furthermore SLAF helicopters will not be venturing in the 150 feet corridor except when needed. This will take the helicopter away, and place it in an area where the threat from unguided projectiles - like the ones I've mentioned above - is highly diminished.

In addition the Thamil Tigers do not have access to a wider range of MANPAD's as the Iraqi insurgents do .. This fact has been amply demonstrated in SLAF operations in the last year.

Even if the Thamil Tigers do get their hands on missiles in the SA-18 class, the SLAF has an affordable countermeasure available on the market. Infact this is a recommendation I made to your defense officials while I was over there last year.

The current L166V IR Jammer on SLAF Mi-24's and Mi-17 - an active, omni-directional IR jammer that works continuously, independent of the ELTA's EL/M-2160 missile-warning system - generates active IR jamming across the bandwidth of 1.8-4.2 µm. The system has a combat proven effectiveness of around 20-25% against Stinger/SA-18 type missiles. The L166V IR Jammer does not radiate enough energy in all directions to allow an all-aspect jamming capability.

This unit can be replaced quite easily with a very affordable upgraded unit from the Ukraine.

The ADROS KT-01AV - very similar in appearance to the L166V family, and fits into the same base as the L166V1A. It uses much of its wiring, making the upgrade relatively easy and eliminating the need for significant rebuilding of the helicopter. The ADROS KT-01AV is a more powerful unit and generates IR signals in the bandwidth of 1.8-5.5 µm and has a truly all-aspect capability. The advertised effectiveness of the new Jammer is around 70-80% against Stinger/SA-18 type missiles.

The new Jammer underwent trials in October 2004 on a Ukrainian Mi-24VP. The trials were conducted on the ground against Igla-1, R-60M, and R-73 missile seekers. The tests were extremely successful.

If the SLAF was to acquire this piece of kit for its Mi-24's and Mi-17's, this coupled with the aircrafts current ELTA's EL/M-2160 missile-warning system + flares package should almost nullify the threat from Thamil Tiger Stinger, SA-16 and SA-18 MANPAD's.

The main advantage is that this piece of kit is extremely cheap compared to our IR Jammers, and is very easy to install. These units can be replaced in Sri Lanka itself.

Hope this helps

Their aircraft fleet is largely intact - however one was destroyed in an air strike in June 2006. I believe it was one of their ZLIN Z-143L aircraft.

Images of the wreckage were captured by your SEARCHER UAV immediately after the air strike. However the Thamil Tigers had removed any signs of the wreckage by the next day.



As far as I know the runway was successfully hit. A Command and Control structure near the runaway was also destroyed along with an AAA - gun point.

However as you must already know, the ZLIN Z-143L does not need a surfaced runaway to get airborne or land.. any flat stretch of clearing on the ground will be sufficient. However the required takeoff/landing strip lengths needed for a ZLIN are clearly identifiable, and visible from the air.



I remember hearing something about this incident.

The interesting thing is, from what I can remember, wasn't it reported in the Sri Lankan media that this incident was a clear indicator of an electronic air-defense capability protecting the airstrip.

However the details revealed in the media at the time of this incident, is in fact conflicting.

The MAW system on the BELL-212 is based around ELTA's EL/M-2160 Pulse Doppler Radar. The system consists of around six miniaturized ELTA pulse-Doppler sensors, which are located around the aircraft to give 360 deg coverage. These sensors detect an approaching missile and automatically trigger the release of IR decoy flares in the event of any attack. The system gives greater than 99% probability of missile detection, and has a very low false alarm rate.

The Doppler radar can only detect approaching projectiles like missiles or RPG's. It is not a RWR and hence cannot alert the pilot of hostile radio emissions directed at the aircraft. Hypothetically if the Thamil Tigers had such a capability, even if their radars had painted the aircraft, unless a missile was launched the MAW system would not activate the flare dispenser based on the aircraft being painted by a hostile radar system.

Coupled with this is the fact that the BELL-212 and the BELL-412 are not equipped with RWR.

So for the flares to have been ejected during that flight - something was fired at it.

Now the question remains - was it a missile or another projectile?

Again from what I can remember the incident occurred after the Thamil Tiger personnel were offloaded and the aircraft was en route to its base.

So in conclusion - the MAW system would not have released flares if all the Thamil Tigers were doing was tracking the helicopter with a missile equipped radar unit. Something would have had to been fired at it.

Unfortunately I do not what it was.

Hope this helps

I think the question has always been a funding issue - does the SLAF have the adequate funds for such a venture .

To possess an effective 24/7 aerial maritime surveillance capability you need as a bare minimum, taking into consideration the size of your country, at least 3-4 aircraft. Now this is a bare minimum requirement.

Then there is the associated cost of training the crew on how to use the surveillance equipment onboard the aircraft effectively. You have the maintenance costs of the surveillance equipment and the aircraft itself.

Taking these factors into consideration, I assume the SLAF couldn't justify the costs at the time.

The situation could be changing you never know :o)



The CESSNA 421 is indeed a civilian aircraft. However the camera onboard this aircraft is very powerful. The resolution afforded by the WILD AVIOPHOT RC-20 is ideal for military purposes. A lot of the detailed ground/terrain maps, and certain high definition surveillance images your military planners have used in the past, were taken using this camera system.

At the current moment this aircraft is being overhauled.

The reason I highlighted this aircraft was because it is the perfect platform to complement the BEECH 200 (HISAR) and the BEECH 200T (SIGINT) already with the SLAF.

If this aircraft is upgraded with an AMOSP (Airborne Multi-Mission Optronic Stabilised Payload) like the CoMPASS IV or the TOPLITE system, coupled with the RC-20, would make it a powerful surveillance platform.

The same payload could also be carried onboard the CESSNA 337.

Visual maritime surveillance is ineffective and outdated - most Thamil Tiger weapon ships off load their cargo at night or at dawn, under these conditions your surveillance aircraft will need an AMOSP capability.

Just out of curiosity .. does your handle have a meaning in your language??

The reason I ask is because I heard that the first ever joint operation between the SLN and the Indian Coast Guard was code named EKSATH.

Hope this helps

The MiG's with the SLAF are infact MiG-27D's ..

These aircraft are actually MiG-23BM (later MiG-27) Flogger-D aircraft upgraded to the M standard, Flogger-J - the soviet designation is MiG-27D Flogger-J.

However, their commonly referred to as MiG-27M Flogger-J's.

Externally and in terms of the major offensive/defensive systems the MiG-27D and MiG-27M are indistinguishable. However one difference is their inertial navigation systems - the MiG-27Ms assembled at the ULAN UDE factory (RUSSIA) use the RSBN 'course' inertial navigation system whilst the MiG-27D's from the IRKUTSK factory (RUSSIA) upgraded to the M standard use the RSDN land inertial navigation system. For all intents and purposes they are the same aircraft, they have the same capabilities.

RSBN is a short range radio navigation system. RSDN is the longer range version. The Russian RSDN system is very similar to the western LORAN navigation system.

The MiG-27's with the IAF are infact, using Russian designations, MiG-27L's and MiG-23BM's.

The MiG-27L BAHADUR is based on the MiG-27M, but with downgraded systems and avionics.

The MiG-27L was made at the IRKUTSK factory, building knocked down aircraft kits, sub assemblies and components for final assembly under license in India.

The MiG-27ML is usually referred to the upgraded version of MiG-27L + MiG-23BM's with the IAF. The ML designations used on some articles available on the internet are sometimes incorrect.

Hope this helps

The Pakistani's have infact got quite a considerable capability within PAKISTAN.

The Pakistani Air Forces No.130 Air Engineering Depot currently has the capability to undertake an almost complete depot level overhaul of the C-130.

They now have the capability to completely overhaul the T-56 engine within PAKISTAN.

As a result of the Pressler Amendment they are a lot less reliant on us.



The F-16A (Block 15) Fighting Falcon entered PAF service in 1983. The airframes when they were delivered had a 8000 hr Service Life before a depot-level inspection or overhaul (more than 26 years of service at 25 flight hours/month). The Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 turbofans however were limited to about 1000 hrs.

When the Pressler Amendment came about in OCTOBER 1990 the PAF was hit hard. A lot of its F-16 fleet was grounded or drastically reduced their flying hours to preserve the operational life of its engines, cause the airframe still had considerable life left within it.

To bring its premier air-defence fighter back into the fold, and to the operational levels it was at before the Amendment, the PAF within the space of a couple of years developed the capability to indigenously overhaul the F100 within PAKISTAN.

This was undertaken at the No.102 Air Engineering Depot.

Since then they haven't really looked back.

There doing a pretty good job I must have to admit.



The aircraft were MiG-29A's.

The following link should give you an idea:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/07/18/stories/2002071800961500.htm

The last I heard (2004) the aircraft were grounded and the Bangladeshi Government were still hoping to re-sell them. The corruption trial as far as I know still hasn?t reached a satisfactory conclusion.

Then again, I haven't looked into this recently.. my information could be out of date.



You've obviously given this a lot of thought :o)

Lets just say Mr. Saervek this idea is suicidal and not worth discussing .. whether the SLAF can or cannot carry out a pre-emptive strike on Indian military installations is not the point .. the repercussions of such an exercise, the overall strategic/tactical advantage gained when weighted against the Indian response will rule out such an idea.

However I must commend you on your research on the matter .. its quite detailed!...

Hope this helps

''LTTE stumped by Sri Lankan jets''

The Floggers the SLAF use, can they be armed with western LGB? Would the Russian FCS be compatible with NATO type LGB?
Do you think that they should be armed with LGB or should that role be left to the kfirC2/C7's?

With regard to the Cessna 421C can it be upgraded to carry ISR system like Aeronautics-AISR or IAI AMOS?

''Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) MiG bombers dropped at least '_' bombs on a civilian settlement.

No civilian casualties were reported in the SLAF bombardment.''

Just out of curiosity .. does your handle have a meaning in your language??

The reason I ask is because I heard that the first ever joint operation between the SLN and the Indian Coast Guard was code named EKSATH.