The Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment is a specialized ground combat corps within the Sri Lanka Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending
airfields
An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publi ...
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 assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind e ...
s with
Airborne
Airborne or Airborn may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Films
* ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis
* ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film
* ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
Infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
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
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
missions (CSAR). The corps itself is simply known as the 'regiment'.
History
The first RCyAF Regiment Squadron was formed under Flt Lt Gerry W. Weeraratna in 1956 to provide ceremonial guards and security for bases and airfields of the
Royal Ceylon Air Force
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...
based on the
RAF Regiment of the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
. However the ground defence of the air bases and civil airports were supplemented by the
Ceylon Army
ta, இலங்கை இராணுவம்
, image = File:Sri Lanka Army Logo.png
, image_size = 180px
, caption = Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army
, start_date ...
. This limited the ability of the army to deploy it troops in offensive operations and made the air force dependent on the army. This was seen specially during the
1971 JVP Insurrection.
With the start of the
Sri Lankan Civil War the SLAF Regiment underwent a large expansion due to the SLAF increasing the number of airfields and the threat to these from the
LTTE
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; ta, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, si, දෙමළ ඊළාම් විමුක්ති කොටි, t ...
. In 1971 SLAF Regiment was formed with 101 squadron, 102 squadron and the only one volunteers suqdron was formed as 106 squadron. In addition to that special squadron was formed as SLAF Commando Unit with elite 52 commandos commanded by Flt. Lt. J.E.Peiris. Later, The Regiment formations increased to a total of 25 Field Wings by 2000 and later to 45 Field Wings. When the
Sri Lanka Artillery
The Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) is the artillery arm of the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of ten regular regiments and two volunteer regiments. The SLA is headquartered at Panagoda Cantonment, Panagoda.
The emblem of the SLA is modeled after that ...
disbanded its Anti-Aircraft Regiments in 1962, the air defence role of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
has been taken up by the SLAF Regiment which it provides today, by the Land Based Air Defence Wing.
Since 1956, the SLAF Regiment frequently mounts the guard at the
Presidents House. In March 2009, the SLAF Regiment was presented with the
President’s Colours.
Organisation and role
SLAF Regiment officers and gunners are organized into 45 Field Wings, which are subdivided into squadrons that are and further subdivided into flights specially trained in ground combat. As conduct of operations related to ground defence is placed under the purview of the Directorate of Ground Operations, the Director Ground Operations is the de facto commander of the SLAF Regiment.
At first the primary role was airfield security and ceremonial duties. In recent years with expansion of the number of wings the SLAF Regiment has begun supporting the
Sri Lanka Army
ta, இலங்கை இராணுவம்
, image = File:Sri Lanka Army Logo.png
, image_size = 180px
, caption = Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army
, start_date ...
in manning defence lines in the north central part of the country and taking part in offensive operations jointly or independently. SLAF Regiment detachments have been established in Morawawa, Pulukunawa-Mahaoya, Puliyankulam,
Mankulam and Poovarasnkulam and has been deployed in
Trincomalee
Trincomalee (; ta, திருகோணமலை, translit=Tirukōṇamalai; si, ත්රිකුණාමළය, translit= Trikuṇāmaḷaya), also known as Gokanna and Gokarna, is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee Dis ...
and Peraru. But airfield security remains the corps primary task, members of the SLAF Regiment guards both Civilian and military airports around the country. It also handles the Ground-Based Air Defence role of the Sri Lankan military, protecting both civilian and military installations. To achieve its objectives the regiment uses
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
,
light armoured,
parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...
,
mortar and
anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...
units.
In addition to these roles, the regiment carries out Airborne Rescue Operations and provide ground support such as
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Bomb disposal is an explosives engineering profession using the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. ''Bomb disposal'' is an all-encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the militar ...
(EOD) requirement of the Air Force, its personal serve as SLAF's
firefighters
A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...
and
intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can b ...
. The Regimental Training Centre is located at ''
SLAF Ampara SLAF may refer to
*The Sri Lanka Armed Forces, the combined military of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅka ...
'' in
Ampara
Ampara ( si, අම්පාර, ta, அம்பாறை) is the main town of Ampara District, governed by an Urban Council.
It is located in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, about east of Colombo and approximately south of Batticaloa.
Hi ...
.
Special Forces
Regiment Special Force is an elite Special Forces unit of the
Sri Lanka Air Force
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...
, part of the SLAF Regiment, formerly Air Base Defence Rescue Squadron, established on 7 July 2003.
The task and role of RSF's Squadrons involves
*Recapturing air bases.
*Provide defenses in an enemy attack as a rapid deployment force.
*Rescue operations and recovering of downed air crew in enemy or friendly terrain.
*Protection of senior air force officers.
*Assist civil authorities in national emergency.
SPECIAL AIR BORNE FORCE (SABF)
A highly trained troops primarily assigned for VIP Protection duties.
SLAF Regiment units
*Field Wings
** No. 1 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 2 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 3 Wing, SLAF Regiment (
Volunteer
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...
)
[SRI LANKA, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies](_blank)
** No. 5 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 6 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 7 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 8 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 9 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 10 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 11 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 12 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 13 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 14 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 15 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 16 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 17 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 18 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 19 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 20 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 21 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 22 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 23 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 24 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 25 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 26 Wing, SLAF Regiment KAT
** No. 27 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 28 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 29 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 30 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 31 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 33 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 34 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 35 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 36 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 37 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 38 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 39 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 40 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 41 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 42 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 43 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 44 Wing, SLAF Regiment
** No. 45 Wing, SLAF Regiment
*Air Defence Squadrons
**No 4 Air Defence Radar Squadron
**No. 32 Land Based Air Defence Wing
*Other Units
**
SLAF Band
Weapons
;Air Surveillance Radars
*
YLC-2 Radar
The YLC-2 radar (domestic designation: LLQ303, formerly known as 385) is a three-dimensional main guidance and surveillance radar developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology.
In the mid-2000s, an improved version labeled ...
*
INDRA Mk-II - 4 units provided by India in 2011
;Surface to Air Missiles
*
SA-18 Grouse
The 9K38 Igla (russian: Игла́, "needle", NATO reporting name SA-18 Grouse) is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. A simplified, earlier version is known as the 9K310 Igla-1 (NATO: SA-16 Gimle ...
(9K38 Igla) provided by India in 2007, 54 operational as of 2020
*
SA-16 Gimlet
The 9K38 Igla (russian: Игла́, "needle", NATO reporting name SA-18 Grouse) is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. A simplified, earlier version is known as the 9K310 Igla-1 (NATO: SA-16 Gimle ...
;Air Defense Artillery
*
Bofors L40/70 40 mm AA guns
[defencenet](_blank)
/ref>
* ZSU-23-2
The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23×152mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for ''Zenitnaya Ustanovka'' (Russian: Зенитная Установка) – anti-aircraft mount. The GRAU index is 2A13.
Developm ...
twin 23 mm AA guns
* TCM-20
The M45 Quadmount (nicknamed the "meat chopper" and "Krautmower"Rottman, Gordon L., Browning .50-Caliber Machine Guns', Osprey Publishing (2010), , p. 19-20 for its high rate of fire) was a weapon mounting consisting of four of the "HB", or "hea ...
twin 20 mm AA guns
;Land vehicles
* Unibuffel
The Unibuffel is a mine-protected wheeled MRAP Infantry mobility vehicle used by the Sri Lankan military, which is an improved version of the Unicorn, made by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
More than 53 Unibuffels had been ma ...
– Mine-protected APC
* Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years o ...
– Mine-protected APC
* Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender (initially introduced as the Land Rover 110 / One Ten, and in 1984 joined by the Land Rover 90 / Ninety, plus the new, extra-length Land Rover 127 in 1985) is a series of British off-road cars and pickup trucks. They c ...
;Mortars
* Type 84 (W84) 82 mm mortars
* Type 89 60 mm mortars
;Small arms
Handguns
* Glock 17
Glock is a brand of polymer-Receiver (firearms), framed, Recoil operation#Short recoil operation, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H., Glock Ges.m.b.H. The ...
* Beretta
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta (; "Pietro Beretta Weapon Factory") is a privately held Italian firearms manufacturing company operating in several countries. Its firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and militar ...
M9 Pistol
The Beretta M9, officially the Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is the designation for the Beretta 92FS semi-automatic pistol used by the United States Armed Forces. The M9 was adopted by the United States military as their service pistol in 1985 ...
* Enfield revolver
Assault Rifles
* Type 81 Assault rifles
* AK-47
The AK-47, officially known as the ''Avtomat Kalashnikova'' (; also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK), is a gas operated, gas-operated assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian s ...
Assault rifles
* M16
The M16 rifle (officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is a family of military rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States military. The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-roun ...
Assault rifles
* QBZ-95
The Type 95 automatic rifle () or QBZ-95 is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured by Norinco, and issued since 1995 as the service rifle for the People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police and various paramilitary law enforcemen ...
Assault rifles
* SAR-21
The SAR 21 ("Singapore Assault Rifle - 21st Century") is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore, chambered for the 5.56x45mm cartridge. First revealed and subsequently adopted by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as its ...
Assault rifles
* EMTAN MZ-47 Assault rifles
Sub-Machine guns
* Uzi
The Uzi (; he, עוזי, Ūzi; officially cased as UZI) is a family of Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine guns and machine pistols first designed by Major Uziel "Uzi" Gal in the late 1940s, shortly after the establishment of the ...
Submachine Gun
A submachine gun (SMG) is a magazine-fed, automatic carbine designed to fire handgun cartridges. The term "submachine gun" was coined by John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun, to describe its design concept as an autom ...
s
Machine guns
* PK machine gun
The PK (russian: Пулемёт Калашникова, transliterated as ''Pulemyot Kalashnikova'', or "Kalashnikov's machine gun"), is a belt-fed general-purpose machine gun, chambered for the 7.62×54mmR rimmed cartridge.
Designed in the Sov ...
s (Chinese version of Russian PKM)
* Type 56 LMG (Chinese version of Russian RPD RPD may refer to:
People
* Robert Prentiss Daniel, American psychologist
* Rahul Peter Das, German professor
* Rajendra Prasad Das, Indian archaeologist
* Royal Page Davidson, American scholar
* Richard Paul Davies, English priest
* Richard Pe ...
)
Sniper Rifles
* Dragunov Sniper Rifles
A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long-range rifle. Requirements include accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment and optics for anti-personnel, anti-materiel and surveillance uses of the military sniper. The modern sniper rifle is a por ...
Grenade launchers
* M203
The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older stand-alone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilizes the high-low propulsion system to keep recoil forces ...
Grenade launcher
Rocket launchers
* Type 69 RPG
The Type 69 85mm RPG (Ручной Противотанковый Гранатомёт, 'Hand Anti Tank Grenade Launcher'), made by Norinco, is a Chinese variant of the Soviet RPG-7. First introduced in 1972, the Type 69 is a common individual ...
Rocket launchers (Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
version of RPG-7
The RPG-7 (russian: link=no, РПГ-7, Ручной Противотанковый Гранатомёт, Ruchnoy Protivotankoviy Granatomyot) is a portable, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank, rocket-propelled grenade launcher. ...
)
See also
* Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment Special Force
References
External links
Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka
{{Air force infantry
Sri Lanka Air Force
Military units and formations established in 1956
Airborne units and formations of Sri Lanka
Air force ground defence units and formations
1956 establishments in Ceylon