[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 14:38 GMT]
A
Sri Lanka Air Force (
SLAF) jet fighter was shot down by Liberation Tigers air-defense system when the bomber approached the airfield of the Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) in Ira`naimadu Monday around 2:30 p.m.,
LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. The SLAF bomber, following a loud explosion, went down into the sea, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
Military Spokesperson of the Tigers, Mr. Irasaiah Ilanthirayan (Marshall)`Our auto activated air-defence-system attacked the Sri Lanka Air Force MIG-27 bomber when it approached Ira`anaimadu airfield on a bombing mission,` Ilanthirayan said claiming responsibility for the attack.
The
Russian made
MiG-27 is a ground attack aircrat, originally built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union, and was intended to fly its missions at low altitude.
The bomber with a `crocodile nose,` containing laser rangefinder, is capable of carrying large variety of bombs, unguided rockets, and missiles.