The Sri Lanka Air Pressure No 10 Fighter Squadron or the Kfir Squadron marked 27 years on Thursday (5).
It was based on fifth January 1996 with the induction of six new sleek tailless delta Kfir C2s primarily based at SLAF Katunayake beneath the command of Squadron Chief Priyantha Gunasinghe.
The Squadron was bolstered within the 12 months 2000 with the arrival of one other 9 Kfir C2s and C7s enhancing the fleet as much as fifteen fighters.
The Kfir was developed by Israel as a multirole all climate day evening fighter, which happy nearly all of the fighter capabilities of SLAF’s by Battlefield Air Strike, Air Interception, Air Interdiction, Maritime Air strikes with precision and lethal pressure.
On the outset, the No 10 Fighter Squadron was strengthened with 4 pilots, 4 engineering officers and seventy technicians, who have been skilled by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and teacher pilots from Israel Air Pressure.
The current Commander of the Air Pressure, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana was first Officer Commanding Operations and succeeded because 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 primary plane to be inducted to SLAF with a Head Up Show (HUD) and a complicated Weapons Supply and Navigation System (WDNS). Along 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 focusing on, was liable for neutralizing the best variety of LTTE strongholds, ammunition dumps, gasoline depots, troop concentrations, maritime components and artillery gun positions successfully lowering the LTTE attrition for floor troops to advance on floor. Since its inception, the Squadron has logged greater than 2,800 operational flying hours and has delivered over 3,500 tons of weapons exactly over confirmed enemy targets. Additional, with the instigation of precision guided munitions (PGM) Kfirs contributed its effort promptly and successfully, every time it was referred to as upon with distinction and honour.
The outcomes of those efforts have been clearly manifested within the nation’s final victory over terrorism in 2009. On 08 March 2009 President Mahinda Rajapaksa acknowledged the contribution of the squadron by awarding Presidents’ Colors to No 10 Fighter Squadron for its distinctive and enduring motion to eradicate the terrorism, which pestered the Island nation for over three many years.
Because it celebrates its twenty seventh Anniversary beneath its current Commanding Officer Wing Commander Prabath Wijekoon, No 10 fighter Squadron is beneath a metamorphosis with the fleet upgradation to C12 model, which can broaden its limits additional with the efficiency enhancement by extremely subtle avionics bundle, navigation and weapon techniques.
With these new additions the Squadron would render its service to the nation sooner or later because the main fighter of SLAF defending nationwide air area. With the endowing effort and dedication of its skilled crew beneath the steering of its Commanding Officer, the No 10 Fighter Squadron will proceed to thrive in future maintaining the Sri Lanka Air Pressure ensign flying excessive.
– Sri Lanka Air Pressure
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