Posted on 04/30/2007 8:19:44 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Tigers exploit flaws in Lankan air defence
PK Balachandran, Hindustan Times Colombo, April 30, 2007
They are like David and Goliath. The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) has a fair sized fleet of Kfir, MIG 27 and Y-8 bombers, MI-17 and MI-24 choppers, and AN-32 transport aircraft. In contrast, the LTTE's air arm, christened Tamileelam Air Force (TUF), is a puny, single digit fleet of propeller-driven and locally assembled Zlin Z-142s of Czech design.
And yet, the fledgling Flying Tigers have been able to infiltrate hundreds of kilometres of government-held territory, attack key military and strategic targets, and get back to base unscathed. This has happened three times in a row so far, clearly suggesting that Sri Lanka's air defence system is totally unsuited to the task before it.
This should cause concern in New Delhi and Washington also, since India and the US had taken the initiative in alerting the Sri Lankans about the potential threat from the skies. India had even provided, free of cost, a radar system for the defence of Colombo, the nerve centre of the Sri Lankan military, and the site of the island's only international harbour.
Defence experts say that the SLAF lacks night operational capability and air to air fighting capability. The SLAF had never planned for a day when its planes would face opposition from enemy aircraft, although there had been a warning about such a threat by an US Pacific Command team in 2002, and by Iqbal Athas, the defence correspondent of Sunday Times since 2005.
The SLAF has fast jet aircraft like Kfirs and MIG-27s which are basically used as bombers to take on static targets on the ground. Air-to-air combat was never envisaged, and suitable equipment was not acquired.
"MIGs and Kfirs are too fast and fly too high to take on the slow moving LTTE aircraft. What the SLAF needs is to envisage a World War II type of situation in which aircraft would go behind the enemy and shoot him down," said a foreign diplomat.
Prasun Sengupta, contributing editor of the Malaysian security affairs magazine Tempur says that Kfirs and MIG-27 can take to the air in less than 2 minutes, but only if they are on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). But for the kind of threat faced by Sri Lanka QRA may be too expensive. At any rate, using aircraft of the kind SLAF has, in the context of the current threat, does not make sense.
The SLAF's Chinese-built K-8 bombers are ideal for the kind of air operations required, but there are so few of them. "It might be sensible to buy aircraft like Zlin-Z-142 The fly is best swatted by a simple fly swatter and not a sledge hammer!" an expert said.
The lack of night operational capability is glaring. Only the K-8s have it. But SLAF pilots don't have Night Vision Goggles (NVG). "On Sunday, K-8s took to the air to intercept the LTTE's aircraft, but the intruders could not be found because it was too dark!" the expert pointed out.
The LTTE is aware of this and has staged all its air attacks at night. Apparently, its aircraft and pilots have night operational capability.
Sengupta suggests the use of low-level air defence radars and shoulder-held missiles like the Russian IGLA-8. But the Indians say that the 2D radars given by them are adequate. "No ground radar can be totally accurate. In addition, aircraft must have their own radars to pin point the enemy," said an Indian defence expert. SLAF aircraft don't have this capability.
US Pacific Command had said in 2002, that the SLAF should stop purchasing expensive new aircraft. On the other hand, it should upgrade the existing fleet suitably and spend a lot on spare parts to keep it fighting fit. A large fleet is useless if much of it is grounded for want of spares.
I have checked.
Yes I did read the article. I urge you to do the same.
In an independent Khalistan, there would be a predominantly Sikh (but secular) government to which both sides could appeal, one that shares the culture that animates both groups, whatever their differing views. They would be able to take their case to people who understand their worldview, not people who just look on all of them as “a criminal tribe.”
I didn’t say there were no Sikh troops in Punjab, and of course the police are mainly Sikh, although the police officials are often not and are generally under the thumb of Delhi. hat I said, which is accurate, is that most of the troops in Punjab are of other groups and most of the Sikh troops are assigned to other states, largely minority ones. That is a fact.
Why do you suppose that Punjab farmers are forced to buy fertilizer and other supplies at exorbitantly high prices and then forced to sell their crops at sub-market prices? It’s the Indian government that is forcing them to do that. That is just one more reason for them to seek independence.
Last time I read, Punjabis had the highest per-capita income in India. Sorry. Not buying your nonsense.
Look in the mirror on that one, pal.
And then, Bangladesh happened. Ouch! Take your mirror back. It's busted.
Because India moved in and created Bangladesh.
Yea, right. Go tell that to the Bangladeshis! This is exactly what I wanted out of you to corner you. So Gen. Niazi was in Bangladesh (oops, East Pakistan) to distribute roses, ay? And the millions of refugees (oops, mountain-hikers) pouring into India only went there to get a whiff of the tea gardens?
It was India that caused the split; it was India that brought Bangladesh into being. Now, the Bangladeshis have every right to their own country, but it was India’s action that caused it to happen. That is simply a fact, as you know.
Your ignorance seems so deep, it's actually getting cute. Do you realise the logical dissonance in you previous post, or do you want it pointed out to you?
Did you know that when he was DGP, KPS gill met with Damdami Taksal? The organizations involved in this incident have been heavily government-infiltrated. India is stokign this violence.
Stoking violence? What’s Pakistan doing in Kashmir then, a not-so-violent people suddenly in ‘89 turned mad. Likewise with the Sikhs a little earlier. Both issues had heavy Pakistani involvement to the teeth. Both issues are now nearly dead. So, like you mentioned earlier, this present status will, should and can only persist for the considerable future.
As for Bangladesh, even Pakistanis admit to their heavy-handedness for its birth. Nothing India did or should have, would have prevented it, and whatever it did, only hastened its birth. And the Bangladeshis are grateful for it.
No logical problem at all. While I believe that all nations are entitled to their sovereignty, it is their own choice and not some outside party’s that should determine that.
So, if the Hispanic-majority regions of Southern and South-Western US requested a vote to opt out of the Union, you would encourage it? We all want your stand on this, clear and open.
The Kashmir independence movement, from all I’e been told by my Kashmiri sources, is sui generis. Thsi you know, too, I believe, but you refuse to understand it.
The Khalistani movement is absolutely self-generating and has no (NO) Pakistani involvement, except for rhetorical support.
Umm, no. And no.
http://www.kashmir-information.com/LegalDocs/Sheikh_Speech.html
BTW, a cheap try at avoiding answering my earlier question. Go ahead, reply it. Don’t make me ask you again.
You there, champ? All I hear are crickets for now...
They all have distinctly separate identity from the rest of Pakistan. They too are linguistically, culturally and socially different and religion is no reason to bind then together under Pakistani tyranny like Bangladesh experience has proved. Wont it be democratic to allow them independence? Whats your opinion?
The rat is caught. He won’t dare answer the last question that went unanswered. Taunt him with the same, every time.
If the people there want it.
Wow, you reply was more like a pipsqeak. Why don't you say it louder and clearer if you are for or against the independence Balochistan and Sindhudesh and Pakhtunkwa?
Do you or do you not believe they have a distinctly different identity and therefore they deserve to be free from the brutal suppression and genocide that they are subjected to under the Pakistani military junta? Don't you see that there is wide spread violation of basic human rights and mass genocide going on in Balochistan and Sindh? Don't you feel you should speak out against the brutal oppression against the Sindhis, Balochis and Mohajirs by the Pakistani Army or are you afraid you will be struck off their payroll?
Could you let us know your opinion in this regards with broader details?
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