The Sri Lanka Air Strain No 10 Fighter Squadron or the Kfir Squadron marked 27 years on Thursday (5).
It was based mostly on fifth January 1996 with the induction of six new smooth tailless delta Kfir C2s based totally at SLAF Katunayake beneath the command of Squadron Chief Priyantha Gunasinghe.
The Squadron was bolstered throughout the 12 months 2000 with the arrival of 1 different 9 Kfir C2s and C7s enhancing the fleet as a lot as fifteen fighters.
The Kfir was developed by Israel as a multirole all local weather day night fighter, which comfortable practically all the fighter capabilities of SLAF’s by Battlefield Air Strike, Air Interception, Air Interdiction, Maritime Air strikes with precision and deadly stress.
On the outset, the No 10 Fighter Squadron was strengthened with 4 pilots, 4 engineering officers and seventy technicians, who’ve been expert by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and instructor pilots from Israel Air Strain.
The present Commander of the Air Strain, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana was first Officer Commanding Operations and succeeded as a result of the second Commanding Officer from seventh of June 2000. First batch of pilots included Wing Commander Janaka Wijayathilake (Retd) and Group Captain Sajeewa Hendawitharana (Retd).
Kfir was the first airplane to be inducted to SLAF with a Head Up Present (HUD) and a sophisticated Weapons Provide and Navigation System (WDNS). Together with the bombload of 5.4 tons, the Kfir has two 30mm cannon weapons inbuilt to suppliment its firepower.
The Kfir with its formidable firepower and precision specializing in, was responsible for neutralizing the most effective number of LTTE strongholds, ammunition dumps, gasoline depots, troop concentrations, maritime elements and artillery gun positions efficiently decreasing the LTTE attrition for ground troops to advance on ground. Since its inception, the Squadron has logged larger than 2,800 operational flying hours and has delivered over 3,500 tons of weapons precisely over confirmed enemy targets. Further, with the instigation of precision guided munitions (PGM) Kfirs contributed its effort promptly and efficiently, each time it was known as upon with distinction and honour.
The outcomes of these efforts have been clearly manifested throughout the nation’s last victory over terrorism in 2009. On 08 March 2009 President Mahinda Rajapaksa acknowledged the contribution of the squadron by awarding Presidents’ Colours to No 10 Fighter Squadron for its distinctive and enduring movement to eradicate the terrorism, which pestered the Island nation for over three a few years.
As a result of it celebrates its twenty seventh Anniversary beneath its present Commanding Officer Wing Commander Prabath Wijekoon, No 10 fighter Squadron is beneath a metamorphosis with the fleet upgradation to C12 mannequin, which may broaden its limits further with the effectivity enhancement by extraordinarily delicate avionics bundle, navigation and weapon strategies.
With these new additions the Squadron would render its service to the nation ultimately as a result of the primary fighter of SLAF defending nationwide air space. With the endowing effort and dedication of its expert crew beneath the steering of its Commanding Officer, the No 10 Fighter Squadron will proceed to thrive in future sustaining the Sri Lanka Air Strain ensign flying extreme.
– Sri Lanka Air Strain
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