Tuesday, March 27, 2007

"Ten Squadron" flies again

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) launched massive airstrikes over Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam positions in the eastern and northern provinces of Srilanka today. Airstrikes resumed after the LTTE carried out a surprise aerial attack on SLAF's main base at Katunayake. There was much speculation in pro LTTE media that the entire Kfir jet bomber fleet was destroyed in the attack.

According to the information we receive, no fighter aircraft were damaged in the incident. However 2 to 6 helicopters parked in hangars and several buildings on the Aeronautical Engineering Wing were damaged in the explosions.

However the Air Force carried out one of the most intense aerial raids after 2002 CFA, today. Kfirs of the 10th Fighter squadron at KAB, MiG27 fighters from 5th Jet Squadron at KAB, Mi24/36 helicopter Gunships from Minneriya AB carried out simultaneous air attacks on various tiger strongholds today.

Targets attacked today

  • LTTE intelligence base - Kanagarayankulam
  • Sea tiger base at Sudolaipidai - Mannar north
  • B-Route Camp - Thoppigala

Targets attacked yesterday

  • Sea tiger base - Wellankulam,Mannar North
  • Sea tiger base - Thibilikulam, Mullaithiv

Damages caused by these airstrikes are not yet known. However, SLAF sent a clear message to the LTTE who are upbeat after yesterday's partially successful airstrike; "We are still here. Nothing has changed."

49 comments:

  1. I liked the wording in the MCNS release

    "In the coming weeks and months the LTTE will realize the full air capability of the Sri Lanka Air Force."

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  2. Since the Government has imposed a total black-out on the losses suffered by the Air Force due to the LTTE air raid, lets just hope that a couple of Helicopters were all lost. Its great news that Kfirs from 10th Squadron took part in air raids carried out over the past 36 hours or so.

    I hope we can keep the pressure on the LTTE and at the same time try and ensure that the LTTE aircraft never fly again over Sri Lankan skies. I’m just curious, what happened to the F-7s we had? Were they retired or are they still on active service?

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  3. ""what happened to the F-7s we had? Were they retired or are they still on active service?""

    5 of the still on active duty. Occasionally takes part in bombing sorties. Kfirs and MiGs are far superior to these so they are rarely used.

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  4. illegal existence, i coudnt find the article you were referring to, is it in the mcns web site?? could you send the article no. pls??

    Maan, if we have such air power why were these not utilized before?? Gosh i cant start to think how far this beautiful country would be if it wasnt for this godforsaken war and the corrupt politicians...

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  5. Feel free to log on to
    http://satlanka.21.forumer.com/
    to explore and express your thoughts on sri lankan DTH

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  6. Skipper here it is

    http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=4987

    It has some nice pics of the Kfirs and MiGs in flight too.

    And a lot of tough talk. I'll like to see if the Air Force can actually go after the LTTE leadership in the north with bunker busting bombs and the like. Cos that is something we've never really been able to do (unlike the Americans) and it would really hit them where it hurts.

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  7. I’m with you on that Illegal existence… We’ve been chasing the trail all this time… the surest way to end this conflict is to go for the head… once the big boy is taken out there will be so much infighting that we can then just stop an watch the remaining LTTE take out each other. We got to keep our eye on the ball and in this case the ball is good old Uncle Praba…

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  9. Hi people,

    Do the Tigers have a pilatus PC-7 or a PC-21?
    Read this :
    http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374826&category=Frontend&Country=SRI%20LANKA

    what do you guys think?

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  10. I’ve noticed that whenever we launch an air raid on an LTTE target, we do so using 2 aircraft. Both would drop conventional high explosive bombs on the target. For most targets that is essential due to the need to avoid collateral damage and civilian deaths. But, there are certain targets, like LTTE airbases and Sea Tiger bases, where we should have one aircraft attacking with conventional bombs and the 2nd aircraft using Napalm.

    That would cause far more devastation than conventional bombs. What do you guys think? Napalm also has a big psychological effect on the enemy. Makes them crap their pants to think at any moment they could be roasted alive.

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  11. "we do so using 2 aircraft"
    We sometimes use 4 bombers too.

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  12. Defencenet,

    The MIGs can do low level Rocket attack runs cant they? Russians make S-8 rockets with thermobaric warheads...sure nice if we could hit the tigers in the open with them.

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  13. It seems that the Air Force bombing of the L.T.T.E.'s airstrips did not debilitate their air capability at all. Maybe the Government should first locate the Tiger bases and aircraft and use Commandos or Special Forces soldiers or even the L.R.R.P. to take them out on the ground like the Tigers did to us back in 2001. Now that would be a real blow to Uncle Prabha's shrivelled balls lol.

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  14. With you on that ravi,
    like the SAS and Para's in the Falklands War, if our LRRP boys can find the tiger AC. that would be great!

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  15. I agree with you Ravi. We need to use our Special Forces to locate the LTTE airfields and aircraft. However, any attack should be carried out by the Air Force. And this time they have to do a proper job by completely obliterating the targets. Use cluster bombs and napalm in addition to the conventional bombs.

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  16. Well tigers seems to have used the Iranamadu Airstrip to launch the planes. Preliminary investigations almost confirm that lead. They have built 2 more in Mullaithiv and some other area too. However we've seen videos (UAV footage) of SLAF bombs hitting the middle of Iranamadu runway and adjoining buildings. But that was an year ago and they seem to have repaired the damage.

    However this could have all been avoided if the authorities paid just a little attention to the report by STF members after the sighting in Vavuniya. Well it's all in the past now. Only thing we can do is to learn from the past and nail the Zling the moment it takes off next time.

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  17. I don’t know to much about the aircraft the LTTE have but since these are light plans cant they take off using a main road. I was just on google earth and noticed some roads that with my limited knowledge of aircraft, could be used as a runway. They could have built these runways you guys talk about so that the air force can go bomb them but they actually use a road. The last I heard some sections of the A9 had been carpeted… would make a good runway No!

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  18. Very True YANKEEZULU.During the "Ceasefire" in Ranil's Time,they started building A9 road.One of my friends worked in that project as a civil engineer.I remember him telling me, how they were ordered to build very wide carpeted stretches on straight road.He suspected that LTTE was planning to use those as runaways.

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  19. guys,
    Cock-Adi-Cholai :p LTTE base has fallen.

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  20. Use of napalm is against the Geneva Conventions, as it comes under the clause covering chemical warfare. So using it might be frowned on. A way around this is to use white phosphorous (WP) munitions, which haave a similar effect, but are deemed legal because of their use as screens and as marker rounds. Not as effective as napalm, though.

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  21. David, arent the Thermobarics a banned weapon? As i remember some organizations talked shit about Mahasohon brigade using them.

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  23. Thermobarics are been made by many countries now, I dont think they are banned.
    The US is making a Thermobaric Bunker Buster" with GPS !
    I would love to see uncle prabahs face when one of them come in to his bunker and "entomb" him!! :-)
    I think our guys use RPO-A rockets from russia.

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  24. Well, according to the GCs, thermobarics cannot be used against civilians or military targets close to civilian areas (along with flame throwers and WP grenades). They can be used perfectly legally against ID'd targets.

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  25. The problem is the LTTE deliberately places all their bases near heavily civilian populated areas, hoping the Air Force targets them and ends up killing civilians.

    Imagine a napalm strike that kills and maims a bunch of Tamil civilians who were living near an LTTE base. Tamil supporting fags in the international media like the BBC will have a field day.

    I'd love to see thermobarics used against the LTTE cos it will scare the shit out of those bitches, but our guys will have to be really careful using them.

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  26. I'm glad they are intact (S 10)
    But, where are the Chinese F 7's that were refurbished in Pakistan Last year ? TNet mentions Pucaras taking off hmmmm ! Are they still operational ? Curious folks,why cant the SLAF use Hingurakgoda AB for Migs ? Did the tigers Use Pilates 7's or the rust buckets they propped on Tnet ? Where the heck did they takeoff from Mulaitivu or Iranmadu ? I saw Iranmadu on Googlemaps nice size !
    A guys coming from Chennai on Sri Lankan took a awesome shot of an AN124 unloading Mig 27's At Katu !

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  27. Hi Fellas,
    Just curious .... why do we have Indian AS Radars instead of Chinese or Israeli gear ? Plus since most AF's have laser Guided Bombs why not the SLAF ? Anyone ?
    Do the SLAF have recon pods for surveillance ?

    Thanks Guys ~!

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  29. Reason we are using Indian Bajaj Class Radar is because.. Indians Forced us to buy it.. We've got 3 Options

    1.Israeli one
    2.Chinese one
    3.Indian one

    India doesn't want our Radars to scan their South Indian Coastal sides with Long range Israeli or Chinese system So they Forced Us to buy their Crap Radar..

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  30. "MiG29 seemed certain a deal was finalised between china and sri lanka following the rajapaksa diplomatic mission there earlier in the year"

    MiG 29's are undoubtedly a great asset to be had by the Air Force but aren't they primarily interceptors rather than ground attack aircraft?

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  31. Hi Fellas,
    Thanks for the info ! I attended a seminar on Asian Theater Security & was told by a Aussie def. Delegate that Indian equipment usaully has only a shelve life of a few years due to Quality issues ! So why do we HAVE to buy theirs ? anyone ????
    Thanks for replys guys !

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  32. I think We should Canceled the Other 3 Radars from india which is still pending.. and look for something Decent Like Thales Or Some Israeli system.. with this Experience (Air Base Attack) We shouldn't get Fooled once again by Acquiring Indian Military Hardware.

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  33. I don't know why everyone's bitching about the Indian radar. Is there any reason to believe it malfunctioned? Upto now, all indications are that it was SLAF incompetence that let the attackers through. STF gives a 40-minute warning, which is ignored; The Katu AD is unable to shoot down a couple of light prop aircraft; and then no SLAF gunships or fighters are scrambled to pursue the attackers. No point going on about radar if your air defenses are asleep or watching the cricket.

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  35. Yes, david is right.

    We should first correct our mistakes & then make sure it doesn’t happen again.
    Anyway our boys need to be better trained & be Prepared!

    About the Chinese radar, I don’t see why we should not get them. China has always stood by us, and we are using a good number of their systems already. The polish RADWAR mobile 3D/Eop KOBRA systems sound pretty good to me.

    I think SL needs some sort of MANPAD/SHORAD system with AAG’s supported by a networked AD command.

    And with the defense pact with US, we should ask for some Stinger FIM-92 Block 2 MANPADS if possible (but with a estimated cost of around $ 160,000 Stingers might be too costly for us)

    What do you guys think, Should we go for Stingers or SA-18s with a training/spares package? Or something else?
    Your views please.

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  36. So what's wrong with the Indian radar system anyway?

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  37. david and nemesis, according to today's Daily Mirror,

    "all radars except one, had been removed for repairs on the day of the incident"

    I don't really think we can blame the SLAF 100% cos even though they had advanced warning of the aircraft, they just did not have the tech to pinpoint its location and heading. Obviously, when the aircraft bombed the airfield and headed back to the Vanni, our guys should have been able to shoot it down, but I'm willing to bet they could have taken it out at BIA if they picked up its approach at least 15-20 mins in advance.

    As things happened, they didn't even know it was coming until the civilian radar at the airport picked it up just as it was about to fly overhead.

    And I think the reason we didn't get the Chinese radar is cos India was "concerned" it will let us monitor their airspace, which apparently is unacceptable (the opposite though, doesn't apply). Which brings us back to the fact that the Indians are a bunch of bitches, who we really need to start moving away from.

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  38. OK, but this still doesn't explain what's wrong with the Indian radar system we were using. A Chinese system could also have been offline for maintainence. What I want to know is why so many of you are suggesting that if we had a Chinese radar, things might have been different.

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  39. david I don't think a county's entire radar system should be offline at any time, however short. Obviously, just after installing it, India decided they needed to carry out "repairs" on it. Either it was not functioning as it should have or it was about to break down. Otherwise, why didn't they carry out maintenance one at a time and and still give us the capability to monitor our skies?

    I'm not a specialist on radars, but from everything I've heard so far, the Indian one seems to wreak of mediocrity and ineffectiveness. And the fact that India was worried that we could effectively monitor their air traffic if we got the Chinese one in all likelihood means the Chinese System is better than the Indian one.

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  40. Ok guys,
    Let’s get the Indian radar thing over with. We have nobody but our selves to blame. Bottom line is we should have been ready.
    Anyway I would like to know if we need MANPADS & if so what should we get? And why should we get that kind?
    And David, or anyone who can answer this:
    Other than radar there are IR/Thermal EO systems to detect & track AC. Are these systems as good as radar to detect low level AC, because ground clutter makes low level radar a bit hard to use doesn’t it?
    What is best: radar as stand alone warning system or radar with EO system?
    thanks

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  41. Sorry to hack this again gents ! tonight I was talking to a Staff Sargent/USAF who maintains KC -135 at Hickam AB ,Hawaii who wuz in delhi 6 months ago on an Military exchange to evaluate INAF operational readyness.When they came to land the tower asked who they were ! failing to pick the KC-135 enroute saying there grids failed on radar ! Having said that DB, was right incompetance yes !but, you only as good as the training you get and Less Developed nations get shanked by Arms dealers often. But, I wish those poor guys the best and hope the Pols. dont screw up ! SLAF needs Stingers NOW Baby !

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  42. Is it true the Raytheon Air traffic radar at BIA finally picked up the 2 Zil's that night or whatever the Tin cans they were ? Will the base commander get axed for this ? Maybe return the 5 F 7's and get the Beijing to aupply SLAF with whole new ASM package with IR/ thermals ? Does they SLAF have qualified techs ? Just asking folks !

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  43. Excuse me guys, In pic of the KFIR look close at the metal work and tell me what the heck are those Yellow primer coated patches are ? Is that an old pic from post 2001 raid at Katu ? I saw on Air Forces Monthly-December, a brand spanking refurbished Kfir sitting at the Katu Base saying was a replacement ? So ..how many do the SLAF have now ? 12 ? But, still no Laser Guided munitions ? Curious as Heck ! DB....what gives ?

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  44. FYI: Here is a great thread that provides some very interesting info on the SLAF capabilities and what's going on.

    http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2006/9/8415.html

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  45. Sri Lanka needs to seriously consder establishing an online data-base of all lknown contributors to LTTE terrorism from overseas. They also need to make a list of undesirables on whom a flight ban is imposed on SL Airlines and via Katunayake.

    You gotta hit em where it hurts. Goivt needs to stop playing pussy with monsters, whether local or overseas. That's how you fight wars. Learn from the Israelis, or the Americans.
    Much better, make our own rules.

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  46. Jiff that would be seriously messed up if it was true, but I'm not sure cos I don't trust those indian newspapers and inch. I'm waiting for the Sunday newspapers to see what the defence columns have to say about what happened. Hopefully they could shed some light on it and clear up a lot of things.

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  47. hey all,

    I saw on a Sunday paper that the SLAF is getting SAMs!! :-)
    About time too, now we got to make sure our boys & the equipment remain ready and vigilant 24/7.

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  48. Nice. If the Times is correct, the LTTE have at least 5 light aircraft so we're going to need all the AA armaments we can get. Hopefully next time the bastards use them we'll be able to take them out.

    But I think we'll be a lot better going after anything their aircraft can use to take off, especially identified airstrips and long straight roads. Given the mostly jungle terrain in LTTE controlled areas and the limited number of paved roads apart from A9, hopefully that won't be too difficult.

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  49. Hi Guys, I was chewing the fat this last weekend with some Air Force buddies and was horrified to hear that the Indian Radar can only detect an aircraft that is flying at speeds greater than 140MPH????? Can anyone get this confirmed?

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