11 October 2024 09:21 am Views - 143
Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
The US government has yesterday officially handed over a Beechcraft King Air 360ER, valued at $19 million, to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) for maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
The SLAF inducted the aircraft during a ceremony attended by Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, and Admiral Stephen Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet.
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER which is a gift from the US government will be assigned to the No. 03 Maritime Squadron at the SLAF Academy in China Bay, marking a significant advancement in Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance capabilities.
SLAF Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa said that discussions between Sri Lanka and the United States on acquiring a suitable aircraft have been ongoing since 2019.
He said that the US, through its Department of Defence’s Building Partner Capacity programme, provided the Beechcraft on a gratis basis, strengthening Sri Lanka’s ability to secure its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and uphold maritime security within its Flight Information Region (FIR).
With the addition of the new aircraft, the SLAF will be better equipped to assist the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, and Police in their operations, Air Marshal Rajapaksa said.
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured by Beechcraft Textron Aviation, was completed in 2022 and upgraded with maritime surveillance technology in 2024. SLAF personnel received specialized training to operate the aircraft in Kansas and Florida, with additional training planned over the next three months by US government personnel. Before joining the Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 in China Bay, the aircraft will undergo final preparations at the Ratmalana Air Force Base.
The King Air 360ER is a versatile light transport aircraft with advanced surveillance systems. It has a range of 1,450 nautical miles and is capable of conducting a wide variety of missions, including search and rescue, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HADR), and monitoring of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. The aircraft will also support the Sri Lanka Navy in countering transnational crimes such as human trafficking and drug smuggling.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Julie Chung expressed confidence that the Beechcraft King Air 360ER would serve as a constant guardian of Sri Lanka’s peace and prosperity.
She also highlighted the US’s continued support for Sri Lanka, noting that since 2005, the US has transferred three ships to the island nation, with a fourth set to be delivered by next year.
Admiral Stephen Koehler reaffirmed the US’s commitment to regional security, stating, “Today’s ceremony is about much more than one aircraft. It’s about our two nations’ commitment to protecting sovereignty and addressing complex maritime challenges together in the Indian Ocean. I look forward to strengthening our partnership and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules-based international order.”