In a move aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s maritime security and sovereignty, the United States has gifted a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The official handover ceremony, held at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake, underscored the enduring partnership between the two nations and their shared commitment to regional stability in the Indian Ocean.
Photo: U.S. State Department
The King Air, equipped with cutting-edge surveillance technology, significantly enhances Sri Lanka’s capacity to patrol its vast territorial waters, effectively counter maritime threats, and safeguard vital trade routes in the strategically important Indian Ocean region.
The handover ceremony was attended by prominent figures from both countries, including U.S. Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet; U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung; Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd); and Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa.
Ambassador Chung highlighted the aircraft as a tangible symbol of the robust US-Sri Lanka partnership and emphasised Sri Lanka’s crucial role in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
“As partners, the United States shares Sri Lanka’s vision that security is a collective responsibility, as our seas connect us. Maritime domain awareness is crucial to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s maritime trade routes, which are the lifeblood of its economy,” stated Ambassador Chung.
She further underscored the importance of maritime security, stating, “While the oceans are rich in economic opportunities, they are also vulnerable to significant threats — from illegal fishing to smuggling, human trafficking, and other illegal, coercive, and deceitful activities.”
Air Marshal Rajapaksa expressed gratitude for the King Air 360ER, recognising it as a significant step in bolstering the SLAF’s airpower for enhanced maritime domain awareness.
“This substantiates our enhanced focus on ensuring maritime security and broadening HADR capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region as a responsible and key stakeholder nation,” stated Air Marshal Rajapaksa.
Admiral Koehler, in his address, reaffirmed the US commitment to regional security and partnership with Sri Lanka.
“Today’s ceremony is about much more than one aircraft, it’s about our two nation’s commitment to protecting sovereignty and addressing complex maritime challenges together in the Indian Ocean,” said Admiral Koehler.
Financed by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity program, the King Air was manufactured by Beechcraft Textron Aviation and completed in 2022, with advanced maritime surveillance upgrades incorporated in 2024.
To ensure operational readiness, Sri Lanka Air Force personnel underwent specialised training in Kansas and Florida from June to August this year. Additional training, conducted by U.S. government personnel, is scheduled over the next three months. Following final preparations at Ratmalana Air Force Base, the King Air 360ER will be deployed to Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 in China Bay, Trincomalee.
The addition of the King Air 360ER to the SLAF’s fleet marks a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s maritime security apparatus. This advanced aircraft will not only enhance the country’s ability to monitor and protect its exclusive economic zone but also contribute to broader regional stability by deterring illicit activities and promoting collaborative efforts in maritime domain awareness.
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