Sri Lanka Air Force
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. It was established in 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force and gained its current name in 1972 when Sri Lanka became a republic. Initially, the SLAF primarily focused on transport, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation operations. However, with the outbreak of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 1983, the SLAF's role expanded to include a more active combat role, including close air support and air superiority. Over the years, the SLAF has been equipped with a variety of aircraft, including fighter jets, transport planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The SLAF has played a crucial role in supporting ground forces during the civil war and has also been involved in disaster relief missions and international peacekeeping operations. Despite facing various challenges, the SLAF remains committed to maintaining the country's territorial integrity and safeguarding national security.
Key facts
| Official Name | Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Local Name | ශ්රී ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව (Sri Lanka Guwan Hamudawa) |
| Country | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
| World rank | #78 |
| Active aircrafts | 86 (as of 2024) |
| Aircrafts on order | 0 |
| Roundel |
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Number of active aircrafts by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | 55 | |
| Transport | 15 | |
| Training | 8 | |
| Combat aircrafts | 5 | |
| Special missions | 3 | |
Aircrafts most used by Sri Lankan air forces
| Aircraft | Active | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi-8 Hip | 28 | Soviet multipurpose helicopter, prevalent during the Cold War, extensively utilized for transport, combat and humanitarian operations globally. | |
| UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" | 14 | American utility helicopter, essential in the Vietnam War, extensively employed for medevac, transport, and combat operations. | |
| Mi-24 Hind | 9 | Soviet attack helicopter, renowned for Cold War use, predominantly deployed for airborne assault, close combat, and anti-armour roles. | |
| Y-12 | 8 | Chinese twin-engine light utility aircraft, recognized from its 1980s development, frequently used for passenger and cargo transportation. | |
| JL-8 | 7 | Chinese jet trainer, developed in the late 20th century, regularly deployed for pilot training and light attack roles. | |
| J-7 Fishcan | 5 | Chinese jet fighter, notable for usage in the late Cold War era, widely deployed in the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. | |
| An-32 Cline | 4 | Soviet transport plane, widely deployed in domestic and overseas services, notably utilized in various military and humanitarian missions. | |
| 206 JetRanger | 4 | American light helicopter, well known for civilian, military, emergency medical services, and offshore oil support roles since the 1960s. | |
| C-130 Hercules | 2 | American military transport aircraft, known for significant roles in Vietnam War and Desert Storm, extensively used for various cargo missions. | |
| King Air 90 | 2 | American twin-turboprop aircraft, prominently deployed for utility, corporate, and military purposes from the 1960s onward. | |
Full inventory in 2024
Sri Lankan Air Force
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | F-7 | ||
| Helicopters | Mi-24/35 | ||
| Bell 206 | |||
| Mi-8/17/171 | |||
| Bell 212/412 | |||
| Special missions | King Air 200 (MPA) | ||
| Cessna 421 (Recce) | |||
| Training | K-8 | ||
| FT-7 | |||
| Transport | Y-12 | ||
| An-32 | |||
| C-130K | |||
| Y-8 |