No. 3 Squadron SLAF

No. 3 Maritime Squadron is a maritime patrol squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It was disbanded in 1993 and its aircraft taken over by the No. 8 Light Transport Squadron. It was restablished in 2019.[1]

No. 03 Maritime Squadron
Active1971 - 1993
2019-present
Country Sri Lanka
Branch Sri Lanka Air Force
RoleMaritime patrol
StationSLAF China Bay
EngagementsSri Lankan Civil War

History

Maritime Squadron was established in 1971 at SLAF China Bay to provide early warning by them air force commander Paddy Mendis, its units took part in operational duties during the 1971 JVP insurrection. The Squadron shifted to SLAF Katunayake and again relocated to SLAF Base China Bay in the year 1988 to conduct surveillance operations against the LTTE[2]

The SLAF has been in talks to acquire both Dornier Do228 and Kingair B360ER maritime reconnaissance aircraft from India and the United States respectively to enhance their operations since 2020. [3][4] In 2022, the Squadron had been earmarked for expansion with the US Government agreed to provide two Beechcraft 360ER on a gratis basis under a foreign military sales contract to enhance the SLAF's maritime reconnaissance capability.[5] and the Indian government lending a Dornier Do228 with technical assistants as part of defense agreements around the establishment of a Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre. Sri Lanka will purchase two more Dorniers on an Indian line of credit.[6] The first Dornier was delivered in August 2022.

Aircraft operated

Current aircraft

Former aircraft

Notable members

References
  1. "No 3 Maritime Squadron Declared Open by the Commander | Sri Lanka Air Force". www.airforce.lk. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  2. "No 3 Maritime Squadron Declared Open by the Commander | Sri Lanka Air Force". www.airforce.lk. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  3. "India might donate one and sell one Do 228 to Sri Lanka – Alert 5". Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  4. "(2) New Beechcraft King Air 360ER Extended Range (B300) Aircraft PANRSA21P0000006435". govtribe.com. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  5. "SL to get two aircraft from US : Clarification from Air Force". newswire.lk. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  6. "Four Pacts with India Compromise SRi Lanka's Sovereignty". ceylontoday.lk. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  • [www.airforce.lk/pdf/news%20paper/slaf/srilanka_ariforce.pdf FORCE REPORT SRI LANKA AIR FORCE]
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