Govt. to purchase eight fighter aircraft

In a move that will exacerbate the Government’s expenditure problems, the Cabinet has approved a proposal by President Maithripala Sirisena to buy eight new multirole fighter aircraft for the Sri Lankan Air Force. 

Cabinet approval was given on Tuesday to call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from aircraft manufacturers and for authorised Government agents to begin negotiations to purchase the necessary aircraft.   

To sustain operational readiness the Sri Lanka Air Force needs to induct a full squadron of eight to 12 aircraft of multirole fighter aircraft with weapons, the Cabinet paper said. Currently the Sri Lanka Air Force has a fleet of Kfir, MiG-27 and F-7 BS aircraft with the average age exceeding 30 years.