Air Force to get 8 Bell helicopters from the USA and trainer aircraft from Pakistan

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is to enhance its air  capabilities with the addition of eight Bell-206 helicopters from the  United States and an FT-7 trainer aircraft from Pakistan this year, the  Daily Mirror learns.   

Commander of the SLAF Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa said that  the United States will deliver eight TH-57 Sea Ranger Bell-206  helicopters to the SLAF in the first quarter of 2025.   

This addition follows long-term discussions between Sri  Lanka and the U.S. and aims to bolster the SLAF’s air capabilities. The  TH-57 Sea Ranger, a military variant of the Bell-206, is primarily used  for training and operational missions by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.   

Furthermore, during bilateral talks with Pakistan during  Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa’s visit, the SLAF secured a FT-7 trainer  aircraft as a grant. The Commander said that the SLAF will receive the  jet in the near future, further strengthening the Air Force’s fleet.   

Last September, the SLAF received a Beechcraft King Air  360ER aircraft from the United States, followed by a Beechcraft King Air  350 from Australia in December. These aircraft are designed to improve  Sri Lanka’s capabilities in search and rescue operations, drug  interdiction, and combating trafficking and smuggling.   
They will also enhance the country’s maritime surveillance efforts and reinforce US-Sri Lanka defence cooperation.   

Air Marshal Rajapaksa said that with those aircraft the  SLAF has already initiated surveillance operations in Sri Lanka’s seas  to combat maritime threats such as drug trafficking, human smuggling,  and illegal fishing, while also protecting local fishermen and naval  personnel from piracy.   

In addition to these new acquisitions, the SLAF is in the  process of modernising its fleet of Kfir fighter jets. An agreement  signed with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in 2021 will see five Kfir  jets upgraded.   

The Commander confirmed that the upgraded C12 Kfir jets,  replacing the older C2 and C3 models, will be integrated into the SLAF  fleet in 2025. These jets will play a crucial role in surveillance  operations across the Indian Ocean.   

As part of its fleet expansion, the SLAF also procured two Chinese-made Y12 aircraft last year.   
The SLAF is further enhancing its defence capabilities by  acquiring modern drone security systems and new air defence and radar  systems.   

“By acquiring modern drone security units and advanced air  defence weapons, the SLAF has initiated a programme in collaboration  with the government to upgrade both the air defence and radar systems.  As the government aims to boost the economy by enhancing the tourism  industry, the Sri Lanka Air Force has also launched several programmes  to support these efforts,” the commander said.