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Lions cant respond in Night - Sri Lankan air force lacks night operations capability
Tuesday, 1 May 2007 - 7:20 AM SL Time
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The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) has a fair sized fleet of Kfir and MIG 27 jet fighter bombers and MI-24 choppers. The LTTE has only a single digit force of propeller driven Czech designed and locally assembled Zlin Z-142s.
Yet, the fledgling Flying Tigers have been able to infiltrate hundreds of kilometres of government-administered territory, attack key military and strategic targets, and get back to base unscathed.
Reason? `The SLAF lacks night operational capability,`` say defence experts.
The LTTE is aware of this and has staged its three attacks so far, only at night.
`SLAF aircraft did take off to intercept the intruders, but they could not spot them because it was too dark,` said an expert who wished to remain anonymous.
The SLAF needs to get Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and aircraft capable of defending the skies at night.
The SLAF had been told to NVGs, among other suitable equipment, way back in 2002 by a team of the US Pacific Command.
But no action had been taken till date, The Sunday Times said.
According to the paper, the US team`s report could not be traced and it was left to a former minister in the 2002 government, Milinda Moragoda, to come to the Rajapaksa government`s rescue and give the Ministry of Defence a copy of the report.
The US Pacific Command had said that the SLAF should stop purchasing expensive new aircraft like MIG 27s, and spend its limited resources on keeping the existing fleet in working order by investing in spare parts and upgrading.
The Kfirs could be upgraded and the MI-17s and 24s could be better armed, the American team said.
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vinod
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 24
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1 May 2007 03:57:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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| The SLAF should get rid of the inherently inaccurate Kfirs and get proper ground attack aircraft, such as the Sukhoi Su-25. |
vimukth
Joined: Sep 2005
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1 May 2007 12:28:25 GMT Report for Abuse
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'Small Propeller driven aircraft' maintained by LTTE, can it fly over 100 Miles without refuelling??????????, Colombo to LTTE Teritories is more than 100 miles. To go and return means double. Does this type of Aircraft has this range?????????,
As I understand they have to either carry their Fuel OR Refuel.....both are not possible. If this is correct, the journey would have 'started and returned' from a closer place to Katunayake. Can someone IN THIS FORUM please educate me on this and the 'Range which they could continuously fly without refuelling'. |
sathyaji
Joined: Nov 2005
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1 May 2007 16:18:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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Vimukth
I think the same, I wrote also here
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/4/14416_2.html.
They are hiding near colombo after an attack |
DVLADV
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1 May 2007 16:54:39 GMT Report for Abuse
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| I thought they were re-fueling in mid air. LOL |
nale
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1 May 2007 17:05:52 GMT Report for Abuse
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I would like to put the plonkas mind at rest about TAF flight capabilty.
It is down to a new kind of fuel,which is only available in VANNI.It is a top secret,which will come to open after the Thamileelam flag is hoisted in UN.
I hope I have solved the mystry of the Tiger aircrafts flight capabilty or confused it?
NAtional LEader/ELAN. |
Su33
Joined: Dec 2006
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1 May 2007 17:06:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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Typical Indian journalism. Copy a Lankan news item and quote it all over again.....and what do we have?
Its the same with bollywood. Anything eye catching in the western movies, catch it and play the Indian version of it lol
whats with these US reports going back to 2002? Karuna was leading the ltte killing machine back then. Its 2007 now damn it! times have changed!! |
SenaM
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1 May 2007 19:07:41 GMT Report for Abuse
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SLAF may have some 'problems' .. it probably goes back to a 'frame of mind' best exemplified by a former air force commander, who said: 'We are in the 'business' of flying aircraft - not making them'. (This is a 'self-satisfied' comment, from a narrow point of view .. does not represent 'national need' .. or, needs to meet 'challenges a-head').
SLAF fly all their aircraft (as far as I am aware) .. there is no question about it, they are 'good' operators .. however, there may be a weakness at the 'higher level', in what may be described as 'systemic thinking' .. in formulating policy, and programs to meet 'up-coming' challenges.
(This was clearly apparent some-time ago .. may not apply too strongly, at this time. Am also aware, Presidents and PMs of former times took scant regard of what Heads of armed Services had to say .. so, there was some justification for them to 'switch-off' as regards 'forward' thinking .. merely to 'perform' at the expected level, and move on to 'retirement', at the conclusion of their term as Commander/Head of Service).
Edited By - SenaM - 1 May 2007 19:10:56 GMT |
justman
Joined: Mar 2006
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1 May 2007 20:16:26 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Perhaps the tigers are flying these planes close to Wilpatthu or Mannar off a well prepared main road or the are using a seaplane close to Colombo and Katu..They are capable of flying their planes to the targets in the night and it's a pity that well established SLAF can't match them.Those culture vaulters who boast about our bygone great culture should understand how weak a race the Sinhalese are.politic ans running to temples and Vatican think these gestures will save us and the norm to a politician running the country,not in a thousand years.It's high time the Sinhala nation grew up to this reality. |
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