SLAF to recieve first ever Dornier aircraft from India

12 August 2022 08:26 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The first ever Dornier aircraft obtained from India will be inducted to Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Fleet on 15th August to enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of Sri Lanka.

The SLAF said during the Defence Dialog between India and Sri Lanka on 09th January 2018 in New Delhi, Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) sought the possibility of obtaining two (02) Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft from India.

As a sequel to the request of Sri Lankan government, the Indian government has agreed to provide one Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft from Indian Naval Fleet on gratis basis for initial two years of the interim period since it would be required two years to manufacture new aircraft. Afterwards, the Indian Government expressed their assent to provide a brand new Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft free of charge. Subsequently, another brand new Dornier 228 will be inducted to Sri Lanka Air Force through mutually agreed terms and conditions between both countries, the SLAF said.

The Indian Naval Dornier (INDO – 228) is a Short Take Off and Landing (STOL), multirole light transport aircraft with a turboprop twin-engine, produced since 1981. Dornier GmbH of Germany being the Original Equipment Manufacturer has produced 245 aircraft during the period of 1981-1998. Subsequently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has commenced the production of Dornier aircraft, under the license of Dornier GmbH since 1993.

The first ever Dornier will be inducted to SLAF Fleet on 15th August 2022 in a ceremonial procession under the patronage by President Ranil Wickramasinghe and Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay with the authentication by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunerathne (Retd) and under the supervision by Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at SLAF Base Katunayake.

The SLAF said the aircraft will be flown and maintained only by 15 SLAF crew who were specifically trained in India for a period of four months consist with pilots, observers, engineering officers and technicians along with the supervision by Indian technical team attached to SLAF comprising of engineering officers and technicians. The team would undertake comprehensive supervision of aircraft, airframe, Aircraft Support Equipment, Ground Support Equipment, relevant documents and would ascertain the serviceability of all the assets.

The SLAF intends to effectively employ the Dornier aircraft specifically to conduct Maritime and Coastal Surveillance Operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Search and Rescue Operations (SAR), Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) and Maritime Pollution Monitoring and Control within Sri Lankan Search and Rescue Region (SRR) to attain SLAF ultimate vision of “Ensuring the National Security through Effective Employment of Airpower” within Sri Lankan Airspace.

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Comments - 18

Dr Sampath Weerasinghe Friday, 12 August 2022 09:04 PM

Valuable Asset. Excellent product, originally from Germany and the best in the region in its category. Long awaited need of Sri Lanka.

IMF Friday, 12 August 2022 11:06 PM

Don't you think the costs of the defence department are out of hand in Sri Lanka?

parakrama Saturday, 13 August 2022 12:32 AM

This is what we need for maritime surveillance. Excellent because this has a long endurance over 10 hrs if I right

Sri Lankan Technologist Working in Germany Saturday, 13 August 2022 01:12 AM

Dr Sampath, you can’t be serious mate! Germany stopped producing this Aircraft more than 25 years ago, it is an outdated Aircraft for the 21st Century. You call it a valuable asset, yes it is as valuable as “ Indian Chappati”.

Lion Saturday, 13 August 2022 02:58 AM

First observation tour may be done by the Rajapaksha clan with the approval of Ranil Rajapaksha the so called president of 134 rouges.

Jason Saturday, 13 August 2022 05:22 AM

Completely useless. This is part of India's $4 billion loan. SL had no choice. Utter waste

Mahila Saturday, 13 August 2022 05:51 AM

IMF, Although attached to SLAF and Defence, this asset is to protect the conduct Maritime and Coastal Surveillance Operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Secure SL sovereignty??!! Much needed asset!!

Mizaru Saturday, 13 August 2022 08:17 AM

A 40 year old design. I wonder what the equipment inside looks like. Could be valves and not transistor or ICs.

sam Saturday, 13 August 2022 08:21 AM

Defense staff and equipment in SL is much more than what they have in developed and richer countries.

An alien who wants to migrate to Sri Lanka Saturday, 13 August 2022 08:21 AM

Do we really need to patrol our borders? Who wants to come here when there is no fuel, food, electricity or water. People want to leave for a better life elsewhere.

Sokrates Saturday, 13 August 2022 10:40 AM

That shows who is a true friend of Sri Lanka. India hands over top quality aircraft of the world's best quality to Sri Lanka, while China hands over its junk ships to Sri Lanka to save on scrapping costs.

Uali Saturday, 13 August 2022 11:37 AM

Indians seem using us to surveillance of Indian Ocean from Chinese,but then, they closed their eyes for armed LTTE crafts plying between two countries challenging our national security and now turning blind eye for illegal poaching in Srilanka waters, their method is fishing in trouble waters

Asoka Saturday, 13 August 2022 12:42 PM

The Dornier aircraft will be inducted on the 15th. This could be used for surveillance if the Chinese vessel Yuangwang which is due to call at Hambantota on the16th ?

Timothy Perera Saturday, 13 August 2022 06:53 PM

Beggars can’t be choosers. Swallow your pride and take what is given or tell Rajapakse clan to return the billion looted or eat Chinese shit with noodles. If not for Indian Aid now, the Poor Sri LAnkans will be starving.

Ben Saturday, 13 August 2022 07:35 PM

In early 19th century,Imperial British presented chief Lobengula of Bulawayo a gunboat to surveillance purpose in Kariba, from Purtugese ,till some time,until get hold of his tribal land and frock his people to infertile homelands

indian Sunday, 14 August 2022 02:51 AM

Please don't under estimate this valuable asset the modern "PushPak Vimana". It may be half a century old German with only valves but it's technology predates from our Vedic times and was only transferred by the indo-Aryan interactions from ancient Bharat. Ask the poor Roma people. It just needs a christening with a proper sounding "Sanskrit" name and is good to go as a modern indian Spy Plane over Lanka airspace with its modern encrypted codes which Bharat will share with all concerned.

Punchi Sunday, 14 August 2022 10:59 AM

If we need rope to strangle India on the orders of our good time girl China, all we need to do is ask India and they will provide it to us even if they know we are going to use it against them.

WSW Sunday, 14 August 2022 02:06 PM

Just what the doctor ordered, antiquated technology, being showed down the throat, by the crafty opportunistic Indians, in the pretext of being friends. No different to these Indians selling discounted Russian fuel to the Lankans at a premium price and also profiting out of it.

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SLAF to recieve first ever Dornier aircraft from India

Comments - 18

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