A Bell 212 and three Bell 412EP helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force's No 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron fly over Colombo on 4 February 2024. Sri Lanka is planning to induct new helicopters to bolster its rotary-wing capabilities. (Pushpa Kumara/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The head of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has announced the launch of several programmes to induct new aircraft and technologies.

Air Marshal R A Udeni P Rajapaksa, Commander of the SLAF, said during a press conference on 14 February that the SLAF is moving away from its erstwhile development of major combat capabilities to focus on maritime surveillance, transport, and territorial defence.

“We do not intend to develop a huge fighting force. We need to protect our land, and [consequently], we need to have maritime domain awareness. Peace in the Indian Ocean is one of the key elements for the sustainable development of our country… Therefore, we are looking at acquisitions falling in line with [these requirements],” he said.

“We are [also] discussing with certain other countries [about the possible acquisition] of … helicopters and also some training aircraft,” Air Mshl Rajapaksa added.

A Bell 212 and three Bell 412EP helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force's No 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron fly over Colombo on 4 February 2024. Sri Lanka is planning to induct new helicopters to bolster its rotary-wing capabilities. (Pushpa Kumara/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The head of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has announced the launch of several programmes to induct new aircraft and technologies.

Air Marshal R A Udeni P Rajapaksa, Commander of the SLAF, said during a press conference on 14 February that the SLAF is moving away from its erstwhile development of major combat capabilities to focus on maritime surveillance, transport, and territorial defence.

“We do not intend to develop a huge fighting force. We need to protect our land, and [consequently], we need to have maritime domain awareness. Peace in the Indian Ocean is one of the key elements for the sustainable development of our country… Therefore, we are looking at acquisitions falling in line with [these requirements],” he said.

“We are [also] discussing with certain other countries [about the possible acquisition] of … helicopters and also some training aircraft,” Air Mshl Rajapaksa added.

A Bell 212 and three Bell 412EP helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force's No 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron fly over Colombo on 4 February 2024. Sri Lanka is planning to induct new helicopters to bolster its rotary-wing capabilities. (Pushpa Kumara/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The head of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has announced the launch of several programmes to induct new aircraft and technologies.

Air Marshal R A Udeni P Rajapaksa, Commander of the SLAF, said during a press conference on 14 February that the SLAF is moving away from its erstwhile development of major combat capabilities to focus on maritime surveillance, transport, and territorial defence.

“We do not intend to develop a huge fighting force. We need to protect our land, and [consequently], we need to have maritime domain awareness. Peace in the Indian Ocean is one of the key elements for the sustainable development of our country… Therefore, we are looking at acquisitions falling in line with [these requirements],” he said.

“We are [also] discussing with certain other countries [about the possible acquisition] of … helicopters and also some training aircraft,” Air Mshl Rajapaksa added.

A Bell 212 and three Bell 412EP helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force's No 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron fly over Colombo on 4 February 2024. Sri Lanka is planning to induct new helicopters to bolster its rotary-wing capabilities. (Pushpa Kumara/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The head of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has announced the launch of several programmes to induct new aircraft and technologies.

Air Marshal R A Udeni P Rajapaksa, Commander of the SLAF, said during a press conference on 14 February that the SLAF is moving away from its erstwhile development of major combat capabilities to focus on maritime surveillance, transport, and territorial defence.

“We do not intend to develop a huge fighting force. We need to protect our land, and [consequently], we need to have maritime domain awareness. Peace in the Indian Ocean is one of the key elements for the sustainable development of our country… Therefore, we are looking at acquisitions falling in line with [these requirements],” he said.

“We are [also] discussing with certain other countries [about the possible acquisition] of … helicopters and also some training aircraft,” Air Mshl Rajapaksa added.

A Bell 212 and three Bell 412EP helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force's No 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron fly over Colombo on 4 February 2024. Sri Lanka is planning to induct new helicopters to bolster its rotary-wing capabilities. (Pushpa Kumara/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The head of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has announced the launch of several programmes to induct new aircraft and technologies.

Air Marshal R A Udeni P Rajapaksa, Commander of the SLAF, said during a press conference on 14 February that the SLAF is moving away from its erstwhile development of major combat capabilities to focus on maritime surveillance, transport, and territorial defence.

“We do not intend to develop a huge fighting force. We need to protect our land, and [consequently], we need to have maritime domain awareness. Peace in the Indian Ocean is one of the key elements for the sustainable development of our country… Therefore, we are looking at acquisitions falling in line with [these requirements],” he said.

“We are [also] discussing with certain other countries [about the possible acquisition] of … helicopters and also some training aircraft,” Air Mshl Rajapaksa added.

A Bell 212 and three Bell 412EP helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force's No 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron fly over Colombo on 4 February 2024. Sri Lanka is planning to induct new helicopters to bolster its rotary-wing capabilities. (Pushpa Kumara/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The head of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has announced the launch of several programmes to induct new aircraft and technologies.

Air Marshal R A Udeni P Rajapaksa, Commander of the SLAF, said during a press conference on 14 February that the SLAF is moving away from its erstwhile development of major combat capabilities to focus on maritime surveillance, transport, and territorial defence.

“We do not intend to develop a huge fighting force. We need to protect our land, and [consequently], we need to have maritime domain awareness. Peace in the Indian Ocean is one of the key elements for the sustainable development of our country… Therefore, we are looking at acquisitions falling in line with [these requirements],” he said.

“We are [also] discussing with certain other countries [about the possible acquisition] of … helicopters and also some training aircraft,” Air Mshl Rajapaksa added.