| No. 03 Maritime Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1971 - 1993 2019-present |
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
| Branch |  Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Role | Maritime patrol |
| Station | SLAF China Bay |
| Engagements | Sri Lankan Civil War |
No. 3 Maritime Squadron is a maritime patrol squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It was disbanded in 1993 and its aircraft taken over by the No. 8 Light Transport Squadron. It was reestablished in 2019. [1]
Maritime Squadron was established in 1971 at SLAF China Bay to provide early warning by them air force commander Paddy Mendis, its units took part in operational duties during the 1971 JVP insurrection. The Squadron shifted to SLAF Katunayake and again relocated to SLAF Base China Bay in the year 1988 to conduct surveillance operations against the LTTE [2]
The SLAF has been in talks to acquire both Dornier Do228 and Kingair B360ER maritime reconnaissance aircraft from India and the United States respectively to enhance their operations since 2020. [3] [4] In 2022, the Squadron had been earmarked for expansion with the US Government agreed to provide two Beechcraft 360ER on a gratis basis under a foreign military sales contract to enhance the SLAF's maritime reconnaissance capability. [5] and the Indian government lending a Dornier Do228 with technical assistants as part of defense agreements around the establishment of a Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre. Sri Lanka will purchase two more Dorniers on an Indian line of credit. [6] The first Dornier was delivered in August 2022.
The Sri Lanka Air Force is the air arm and the youngest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. It was founded in 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) with the assistance of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The SLAF played a major role throughout the Sri Lankan Civil War. The SLAF operates more than 160 aircraft.
The Regiment Special Force (RSF) is a Sri Lanka Air Forces elite special force unit, which is part of the SLAF Regiment. It was raised in 2006.The RSF Wing is an independent formation of the SLAF and commanded by a Commanding Officer who is responsible to the Commander of the Air Force through Director Ground Operations for the efficient and effective function.
Marshal of the Air Force W. D. M. J. Roshan Goonetileke, RWP and bar, VSV, USP is a Sri Lankan senior air force officer. He was a former Governor of the Western Province of Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment is a specialized ground combat corps within the Sri Lanka Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. Its members are the SLAF Regiment Officers and the airmen of operations ground specialization. The SLAF Regiment is fully capable of protecting all its air bases, installations by itself using infantry and light armored units as well as launch air assaults with Airborne Infantry elements (paratroopers). Ground-based air defense of vital military and civil installations around the country is carried out by the SLAF Regiment along with combat search and rescue missions (CSAR). The corps itself is simply known as the 'regiment'.
The Air Force Academy (AFA) is the Sri Lanka Air Force's training and education academy which provides initial training to all SLAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. AFA also provides initial training to Officer Cadets of the general duties pilot branch. The Air Force Academy is based at SLAF China Bay in Trincomalee. The Commandant of the academy is an officer of the rank of Air Commodore.
No. 10 "Fighter" Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the IAI Kfir from SLAF Katunayake. The squadron is tasked with providing offensive support for ground & maritime (anti-shipping) operations, air interdiction and interception. It specializes in high altitude precision ground attacks.
No. 8 "Light Transport" Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the Beechcraft B-200, Harbin Y-12 and Xian MA60 from SLAF Ratmalana. Its roles include light transport, reconnaissance and advanced fixed-wing flying training of officer cadets for twin engine aircraft.
No. 14 Squadron was a training squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It operated the Hongdu JL-8 from SLAF China Bay for advanced flying training. The training at the squadron can be divided into two sections. They are Advance Flying Training and Fighter Conversion Training. The flying cadets who complete the Advance Flying Training chosen in to three main streams of flying in the SLAF. The flying cadets who are chosen in to the fighter jet have to remain further at the squadron to follow the fighter conversion training.
No. 2 "Heavy Transport" Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the C-130 Hercules and Antonov 32 from SLAF Katunayake.
No. 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates Bell 412/412EP/212/206JR from SLAF Ratmalana for VVIP/VIP Air transport.
No. 6 Helicopter Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates Mil Mi-17s from SLAF Anuradhapura for troop transport.
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The Sri Lanka Air Force Women's Wing is the women's branch of the Sri Lanka Air Force, it was formed in 1983 which contains the female members of the Sri Lanka Air Force, both airwomen and lady officers. Only unmarried women can join. Women were first admitted to the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1972 when female officers joined the Volunteer Air Force. Initially, women could not become pilots. However, in 1998 women were recruited to train for the elite pilots' wing to replace losses to the Tamil Tigers in their insurgency. 800 women applied for the 33 available places to fly transport planes.
No. 49 Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive Wing was established in 2016 at the SLAF Bandaranayake. The unit's first Commanding Officer was Squadron Leader Nilendra Perera, who continues to hold this office. The wing is equipped with modern equipment required to counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive threats.
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Air Marshal R. A. Udeni P. Rajapaksa RSP & two Bars, VSV, USP is a senior Sri Lanka Air Force officer and pilot currently serving as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force since June 2023. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Director Air Operations, Base Commander SLAF Katunayake and Commandant of the Air Force Academy China Bay.