The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has formally inducted a newly acquired Beechcraft KING AIR 360ER, which will be assigned to No. 03 Maritime Squadron at SLAF Academy China Bay. The aircraft has been donated to the SLAF by the USA and funded by the U.S. Department of Defence’s ‘Building Partner Capacity’ programme.
The US$19 million U.S. Government grant includes the aircraft and support services, which are all provided at no cost to Sri Lanka. Discussions pertaining to the grant of the aircraft to the SLAF have been underway since 2019. The aircraft, manufactured by Beechcraft Textron Aviation was completed in late 2022 and underwent additional upgrades, including the installation of maritime patrol sensors like radar and cameras, finalized in mid-2024.
Speaking at the type’s induction, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa said that the advanced ISR platform will not only strengthen the maritime security but also expand the SLAF’s Humanitarian Assistance And Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities. “Moreover, it will aid in combating transnational crime and help Sri Lanka fulfil the regional peace and security responsibilities through enhanced maritime surveillance, monitoring and patrolling,” he said.
SLAF personnel took part in training in Kansas and Florida from June to August 2024 to prepare for the aircraft’s arrival. The team comprising pilots, observers, flight engineers and technicians from the SLAF received a specialized training in the USA on the aircraft and its various mission systems. SLAF personnel will undergo further training and integration at the Ratmalana Air Force base before joining Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 in China Bay, Trincomalee.
The new aircraft will strengthen Sri Lanka’s capability to secure its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and maintain maritime security within its Flight Information Region (FIR) and the SLAF will deploy the new aircraft for maritime surveillance operations, conducting deep-sea rescue missions, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations/Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, monitoring Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and supporting the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), drug interdiction, and combating trafficking and smuggling.
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