• The aircraft will be deployed for maritime surveillance operations

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) yesterday said the United States government will grant two maritime surveillance aircraft (Beechcraft 360ER) to the Sri Lanka government, free of charge, through the Foreign Military Sales Contract to be operated by SLAF. 

Responding to the Daily Mirror story on Monday titled “U.S. Company to deliver Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft to Sri Lanka”, Air Force Spokesman Dushan Wijesinghe said the first aircraft will be delivered in late 2022 or early 2023 to SLAF.

He said the United States government has agreed to provide two maritime surveillance aircraft to the SLAF under Foreign Military Sales Contract in strengthening the maritime surveillance capability in Sri Lankan Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to ensure maritime security in the region following a request made by present Commander of Air Force, Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana.

SLAF requested Beechcraft 360ER twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Textron Aviation, which is a light transport aircraft certified by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Spokesman said. SLAF has been operating Beechcraft B-200 aircraft for decades which is the earlier versions of Beechcraft family. The established operational and maintenance capabilities are one of the main advantages that SLAF possesses in the future operation of new B-360ER aircraft, Group Captain Wijesinghe said.
These aircraft will be deployed for the maritime surveillance operations which is a demanding requirement in the present-day context that was heavily urged for respond maritime disasters such as fire onboard MT New Diamond and X Press Pearl, assisting deep-sea rescue missions, monitoring illegal fishing activities and assisting Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in combating transnational crimes including human smuggling as well as drug trafficking in EEZ. These aircraft will incorporate next-generation technologies that enhance the operational capabilities and state-of-art surveillance equipment worth millions will be provided along with aircraft FOC basis.

• These aircraft will incorporate next-generation technologies