Following the LTTE aerial attack on KAB, SLAF bombers and helicopter gunships were put to the test with several night mission assignments. Mi-24 (hind) Gunships and Kfir fighter jets were used to attack LTTE targets in northern province at around 1am and 4 am in the morning. Air force pilots have confirmed that the missions were successfully completed.
Pro LTTE media and many international news agencies had previously claimed that SLAF had no night attack capability. Some even used this fact as a benchmark to show that Tamil Eelam Air Force pilots were more skilled than the SLAF personnel.
Meanwhile, after a week of unconfirmed reports and speculation, Defencenet can officially confirm that no fixed wing aircraft was damaged in the KAB attack. However, 5 helicopters which were damaged in the attack have been repaired. These were parked in the hangars nearby the Aeronautical Engineering Wing. It would have been catastrophic had a bomb fell near a hangar which housed fighter jets of 10th squadron.
SLAF needs to make it a priority to reinforce the hangers. There are experienced local contractors who assist the defence establsihment with re-inforced concrete bunker construction which includes the highly effective mobile units that has been in use in the war zone.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the GoSL doesn't seem keen on outsiders doing their propoganda. I know several filmmakers, writers, and commuications experts who've volunteered their services, with no result.
ReplyDeleteHey Jiffy… I totally agree with you with regards to the propaganda war. But I hardly feel the Air force pilots are the guys to be featured as there are far better role models to be found elsewhere. For one the LRRP boys or even the regular foot soldier I think should get our utmost gratitude and respect for the jobs they do. Our fighter fly boys sit around in their A/C rooms doing F all while their aircraft which is paid for by our hard work go up in flames. When they go on bombing runs they have such superior weapons that their chances of survival are just as good as a pedestrian crossing the road. They are doing a good job but nothing that needs to be hero worshiped. Now when our fly boys can emulate the LTTE fly boys, then we can hero worship them. What ever said and done the LTTE pilots flew basically kit planes with god knows what kind of navigational system across from the wanni bombed our main airbase and got back home. Now that’s something. A dam shame the ltte can do it with an aircraft that’s worth few thousand dollars and our guy who need aircraft that a few million dollars.
ReplyDeletewith all due respect to the lrrp troops, the flying cubs are better role models, at least for propaganda purposes.
ReplyDeleteThe flying fucks got their 15 mins of fame and barely caused any damage to us. LRRP's effects in eliminating top LTTEers are longer term.
ReplyDeleteAnd propaganda wise, don't forget how disheartened you can get when you know there are enemy special ops operating in your area ready to blow you up in an instant. Just like how we took Vakarai, Sampur and are now retaking Thoppigala, these guys are gonna help us win the war.
Good that the SLAF can finally fly at night. One could have thought that they have night blindness.
ReplyDeleteLRRP is also good. Deep peneteration is a good demolarizer to any enemy combat units but they are effective till they are sold out. In Sri Lanka that should just be in a matter of time.
Devolution is the only solution to the problems. The good thing about this war is the World gets cheap labour from Sri Lanka.
Yes, nothing like making the tigers shit in their pants wondering who? where? when? the LRRP boys will strike next.
ReplyDelete:-)