armée Sri-lankaise / Sri Lanka Armed Forces

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Sri Lankan Army appoints new military spokesman

Sri Lanka Army yesterday (10 Aug) appointed Brigadier H. A. Nihal Hapuarachchi of Sri Lanka Army Corps of Engineers as the Military Spokesman and also as the Director of Media at Army Headquarters.

He joined the Sri Lankan Army in 1982, since then Brigadier Hapuarachchi has held several Command and Staff appointments.

Brigadier Hapuarachchi has been serving as Brigadier Coordinating of the Sapugaskanda Defence Services Command and Staff College before taking up his new appointment at Army Headquarters yesterday.

defpro

F7







Mig27

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Sri Lanka Air Force takes delivery of MA 60 aircraft










The Sri Lanka Air Force took delivery of two MA 60 passenger aircraft from China today (September 30, 2011).

The aircraft became part of the Air Force inventory in a simple brief ceremony held at the SLAF Base Ratmalana, presided over by Wang Jian Feng, First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama.

First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka Wang Jian Ferg and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama celebrating the handing over of the two aircraft.

The MA 60 is a twin engine turboprop aircraft which has a seating capacity for 56 passengers.

Both aircraft which have been inducted to the SLAF are civil registered and will contribute towards aviation growth in Sri Lanka.

These aircraft will be operated by ‘Helitours’, the SLAF’s commercial arm and will offer a superior service with enhanced comfort on domestic flights.

In addition, the SLAF’s Helitours is also exploring the possibility of expanding the area of operation of these aircraft to regional destinations as well.

Being no stranger to flying overseas, the SLAF is confident that these aircraft will be put to good use in meeting the ever growing needs for air travel in the region.

dailynews

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Bell Helicopter Delivers to Sri Lanka Air Force


FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 1, 2011) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today it delivered two Bell 412s to the Sri Lanka Air Force during a ceremony at its facility in Piney Flats, Tennessee.

"We've had a strong partnership with the Sri Lanka Air Force for more than 40 years," said Larry D. Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter's Commercial Business. "This is a great day for Bell Helicopter as we continue to celebrate this relationship," he said.

Attending the ceremony and accepting the keys to the new Bell 412s was Air Marshall Abeywickrema representing the Sri Lanka Air Force.

"The Bell 412 is highly reliable and a capable product for our mission needs," said Sri Lanka Air Force's Commander Air Marshall HD Abeywickrema. "Dependable Bell products and the customer support and service we’ve received over the years are what we value. We look forward to continuing that relationship in the months and years to come," he said.

The Sri Lanka military operates a large fleet of helicopters in Sri Lanka with the majority of them being Bell Helicopter products.

Click on the download links below to access high-resolution images from the ceremony at Bell Helicopter's facility in Piney Flats, Tennessee:

(L to R) Larry D. Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter’s Commercial Business, Sri Lanka Air Force’s Commander Air Marshall HD Abeywickrema, and Sri Lanka Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya in front of one of two Bell 412s delivered to the Sri Lanka Air Force at the Bell Helicopter facility in Piney Flats, Tennessee.

bellhelicopter

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Sri Lankan Air Force Hind attack helicopters fly in formation during a Victory Day parade in Colombo on May 19, 2012.









Sri Lankan Army tanks proceed as they take part during a Victory Day parade in Colombo on May 19, 2012.

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Sri Lanka Air force orders more Mi – 17 helicopters – report


SLAF to get more Mi-17 helicopters

Sri Lankan Air force has ordered 14 Mi-17 helicopters from Russia’s state run Rosoboronexport, a media report said.

The report says this is part of a US$ 300 million, 10 year loan agreement entered between Russia and Sri Lanka to buy equipment for Sri Lankan security forces.

According to the report, the signing has taken place during this year.

SLAF media spokesman Group Captain Andrew Wijesuriya, when asked by News360.lk regarding the media report, did not either confirm or deny it.

He said “we don’t comment about purchases until we get them on our inventory”.

However Wijeysuriya said, existing Mi – 17’ with the air force are being used for transport purposes.

“We use Mi- 17’s for commercial flying and also during disaster management operations” he added.

Sri Lankan Air force at present is also engaged in offering passenger transport services via Helitours, which is the commercial flying arm of the Air force.

According to Wijeysuriya, Mi-17’s are also being used for surveillance activities, such as helping fishing trawlers when they need help while engaged in fishing activities.

Mi-17 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship.

However, SLAF says Mi-17 did not have a military role even during the conflict.

Courtesy: defenseindustrydaily.com

www.news360.lk

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SLAF To Purchase More Choppers


By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is currently conducting a feasibility study to purchase Mi-17 helicopters as part of a US$ 300 million Russian credit line.
Cabinet Spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said the SLAF following the feasibility study would decide on the number of helicopters to be initially procured. He explained that the country has provision to procure up to 14 helicopters under the Russian credit line that was initiated during the latter part of the war.
“Since the war was coming to an end, we decided there was no immediate requirement to purchase 14 helicopters,” he said.
However, following the end of the war, SLAF ventured into domestic passenger transport as a commercial venture through Helitours.
Rambukwella said the SLAF was looking at purchasing helicopters to be used to expand its existing commercial air transport work.
He added that the SLAF would pay back the loan through its profits from the commercial venture once the helicopters are purchased.
“I do not know when the study would be completed, but I don’t think the SLAF would utilize the entire facility and purchase 14 helicopters,” Rambukwella observed.
Meanwhile, SLAF Spokesperson Group Captain Andrew Wijesuriya neither denied nor confirmed the procurement of Mi-17 helicopters.
He said he was unable comment about purchases until it is in the Air Force inventory.
Speaking of Helitours, Wijesuriya said it is a commercial venture aimed at making profits and to improve domestic aviation until the private sector starts to invest in the field.
Reports of SLAF signing and agreement with a Russian company to purchase 14 Mi-171 helicopters first came out in August 2011.
Sri Lanka has reportedly signed a contract to purchase 14 Mi-171 helicopters from Rosoboronexport State Corporation, a state-owned arms enterprise under a Russian credit deal.
Russia’s ITAR-TASS had stated that Rosoboronexport will supply 14 Mi-171 helicopters of different modifications to Sri Lanka, two years after it ended a three-decades long terrorist war.
“A corresponding contract for supplying the helicopters will be carried out on account of the Russian state credit given to Sri Lanka by Russia in 2010 for purchasing Russian armaments,” the news agency has stated without giving any details on the deal.
Nevertheless, Rambukwella denied having signed any agreement yet saying a study was still being carried out into the matter.

/www.thesundayleader.lk

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SRI LANKA-COLOMBO-ARMY-ANNIVERSARY
10 October 2012 / 16:50







(121010) -- COLOMBO, Oct. 10, 2012 (Xinhua) -- Soldiers attend a ceremony to mark the army's 63rd anniversary in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 10, 2012. Sri Lanka's army celebrated its 63rd anniversary here on Wednesday by staging a parade as well as several other events, an official said. (Xinhua/Pushpika Karunaratne)

Source: XINHUA

http://bta.bg/en/gallery/image/376035

Des forums indiens et pakis en parle depuis hier, mais il y avait pas des sources sur le net qui le confirme ... Le Sri Lanka achètera 6 JF-17 !

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Airforce to purchase 06 combat planes


(Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Air Force is due to is arranging to purchase six JF -17 planes, according to the progress freport of Ministry of Defense and Urban Development. These aircraft are due to be purchased under the 2013 finalised projects.

The JF-17 (Thunder) co-developed by Pakistan Air Force and China Aero Technology Import Export Cooperation (CATIC) and co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC)

The JF-17 Thunder is an all weather, multi-role, light combat aircraft that has the potential to be the main stay & work horse of any Air Force.

In addition, 17 Mi-17 helicopters and 02 B.206 helicopters are also due to be purchased. These are to be utilized for passenger transport.

The Mi-17 medium multi purpose helicopter is produced by Kazan Helicopters. The B 026 is built by Bell helicopters.

However the time span within which the purchased are to be made has not been determined.

http://www.mirror.lk/news/3693-airforce-to-purchase-06-combat-planes

surement don paki (ou financement tres avantageux) pour relancer enfin des marchés qui ne volent pas,ca serait le premier client donc

F-7GS avec PL-9C ... remarquez la propreté des locaux de cette base


Mig-27M


AB-212


Mi35P

F-7GS



F-7BS


FT-7


Kfir C2



K8


Mi35

les kfir et mig-27M etaient leur salut contre les LTTE

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Sri Lankan army personnel take part during the Victory Day parade rehearsal in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, on May 15, 2013. Sri Lanka celebrates War Heroes Week with a military parade scheduled for May 18. The parade celebrates the fourth anniversary of the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, ending a 37-year long separatist conflict. (Xinhua/Pushpika Karunaratne)

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Sri Lankan commandos look to shed 'jack of all trades' role
By Kenneth Conboy, Ganemulla, Sri Lanka
6/11/2013
Four years since the Sri Lankan military's victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, it is still adjusting to peacetime.

The transition has arguably been hardest for the elite Commando Regiment, which IHS Jane's visited at its headquarters in Ganemulla in late May. Formed in 1977 as an anti-hijack team, it expanded over the ensuing decades and by 2009, comprised five commando regiments administered by the Commando Centre, while a Commando Brigade ostensibly wielded operational control in the field. Well beyond their original hostage rescue mandate, the commandos were being used for everything from light infantry to long-range reconnaissance.

"They had strayed far from their original roles," said Major General Chagie Gallage, their most senior officer. "I want to bring them back."

The Commando Regiment made its first adjustments to its new peacetime role in 2010 by reorganising its training programmes at the Commando Regiment Training School (CRTS) at Uva Kudaoya. The original CRTS continues to do commando selection and orientation, as well as leadership and airborne courses, while a new Commando Regiment Special Warfare Training School has been established in the extreme northwest of the country.


http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065980070&channel=defence

Kfir C2


F-7BS

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Sri Lankan Navy receives donated Australian patrol vessel



The Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) took delivery of a Bay-class patrol boat, donated by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), at a flag-transfer ceremony in Cairns on 30 March.

An ACBPS official told IHS Jane's on 2 April that the 38 m vessel - the former ACV Corio Bay , rechristened SLNS Oshadi - will be joined by another patrol boat following a pledge made by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in November 2013 to donate the vessels to help enhance the SLN's maritime security capacity. The ACBPS has not revealed the estimated delivery date for the second vessel.

According to technical specifications provided by manufacturer Austal Ships, Bay-class vessels have a maximum range of 1,000 n miles at a top speed of 20 kt. They can carry 12 crew and two landing craft.

As part of the transfer process ACBPS Marine Unit officers spent 17 days training SLN personnel in the various aspects of managing a Bay-class vessel. "The training was comprehensive. It included activities ranging from ship's deck work and familiarisation of electronic systems and equipment on board, to undertaking operational drills," said Nigel Perry, ACBPS national director of border force capability.

The fully furbished vessel, with 284,026 n miles under its belt, will make the 4,800 n mile journey to Colombo, where it will assume maritime patrol duties in the Indian Ocean.

Under a programme announced in June 2010, Australia is replacing its Bay-class boats with larger Cape-class patrol vessels, which will provide increased crew and range capacity. Australia pledged to donate its retired boats to regional maritime agencies in the fight against smuggling.

On 14 February, IHS Jane's reported that Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison had pledged to donate two Bay-class vessels to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

http://www.janes.com/article/36328/sri-lankan-navy-receives-donated-australian-patrol-vessel

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Sri Lanka receives second donated Australian patrol vessel

http://www.janes.com/article/38806/sri-lanka-receives-second-donated-australian-patrol-vessel

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SLAF Plane crashes in Hokandara, four dead

An Antonov-32 plane belongs to the Sri Lankan Air Force has crashed into a rubber Estate in Hokandara area in Athurugiriya around 6.20 AM this morning. Four have been confirmed dead due to the crash.

Dr. Anil Jayasinghe speaking to the official government news portal said that one causality with several burn injuries was admitted to the Sri Jayewardenapura Hospital. No residents in the area have been injured.

Sri Lanka Air force Spokesperson Wing Commander Gihan Senevirathna mentioned that there had been five crew members in the aeroplane. It was was intended to land at the Ratmalana Airport.

http://www.defence.lk

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Lanka decides to consult China


Sri Lanka will not make any decision on Chinese projects it is reviewing until it consults China, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister said on Friday, pledging that his new government would welcome Chinese investors, the Reuters news agency reported.

President Maithripala Sirisena has unnerved China with his re-examination of certain projects that China has invested in, including a $1.5 billion “port city” project in Colombo.

India, which lost out to China in infrastructure development on the Indian Ocean island, was in particular worried about the security threat posed by Chinese ownership of land, aggravated by the docking of Chinese submarines in Colombo last year.

Last week, Sri Lanka said it would reconsider the outright transfer of a parcel of land to China under the port city deal signed by the previous government, amid concern it could be used for by the Chinese navy.

Speaking in Beijing after meeting his Chinese counterpart, Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said he did not discuss the port issue directly, and the government was not only looking into Chinese projects.

“Anything relating to Chinese investment will be shared and discussed with the government of China before we take any final decision,” Samaraweera told a news conference, citing what he told his Chinese counterpart.

Sri Lanka will always welcome Chinese investment and it would now be an even safer place in which to invest, he said.

“We are trying to ensure that there is a level playing field for all investors and a conducive environment for investment based on the restoration of the rule of law, democracy, good governance and transparency,” Samaraweera said.

“All proposals in future will be considered totally on merit.”

Samaraweera is in China to prepared for an expected visit by Sirisena next month.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China remained a good partner of Sri Lanka.

“China is willing to continue being a trustworthy and reliable development partner … and will also keep doing its best to provide assistance for Sri Lanka’s social and economic development,” Wang said.

India had grown increasingly wary of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pursuit of closer ties with China, which became a key supporter of the island’s economy after its 26-year-civil war ended in 2009.

China has built a seaport and airport in the south of the country, raising fears it is seeking influence in a country with which India has traditionally had deep ties.

India’s concern grew after the Rajapaksa government allowed the Chinese submarines to dock.

http://colombogazette.com

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Sri Lanka Signs Memorandum For Eight Pakistani-made JF-17 Thunders
Jan 6, 2016



Sri Lanka has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan on Tuesday to purchase at least 8 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.

The deal was signed during a visit to Sri Lanka by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif this week, confirming earlier rumors about an imminent deal.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) which already flies several other Chinese-made Shenyang F-7 fighter jets – is currently looking to upgrade its fighter capabilities. At present these rely on the Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir.

The Thunders is expected to replace SLAF’s obsolete MiG-23 and MiG-27 fighter jets.

The JF-17 Thunder is the result of a joint program by Pakistan and China. In the latter, the same aircraft is designated Chengdu FC-1.

economictimes.indiatimes.com




http://defence-blog.com/news/sri-lanka-signs-memorandum-for-eight-pakistani-made-jf-17-thunders.html

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Bell 206 helicopter of Sri Lanka Air Force crash landed upon takeoff
May 25, 2016




Bell 206 helicopter was damaged during takeoff in Hingurakgoda Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Camp, Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Chandima Alwis said.

The spokesman said the chopper flown by a trainee pilot during a training session had tilted to a side during takeoff.

The pilot was not injured but the chopper was damaged in the incident.

The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engined helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army’s Light Observation Helicopter program, it was not selected by the Army. Bell redesigned the airframe and successfully marketed the aircraft commercially as the five-place Bell 206A JetRanger.

http://defence-blog.com/news/bell-206-helicopter-of-sri-lanka-air-force-crash-landed-upon-takeoff.html