Speedy acquisition of air threat negation systems builds people’s confidence

No War Risk Surcharge for Colombo-bound flights:

UNFAIR CRITICISM: There was a deep silence on the part of the LTTE since they last carried out their air raid in Colombo last month. But there was heightened activity on the part of the Security Forces specially the Air Force to face the threat posed by the LTTE during the past few weeks.

One of the main factors that led the Government to react to these incidents so fast was the publicity given to the three air raids carried out by the LTTE contrary to the minor damage they caused.

The major criticism levelled against the Security Forces was focused on their failure to destroy the two light aircraft.

It was sad to observe that the criticism was aimed specially at Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa without

 proper knowledge of the Air Defence System of the country.

Some persons acting in a shameless manner took narrow political advantage out of this situation.

Even under these difficult circumstances, the Defence Ministry acted very fast within the last few weeks not to respond to such criticism but to face the threat effectively.

The Government had a clear understanding of the situation and had to take some critical decisions not only aiming to protect security nerve centres but also considering the international image of the country in the wake of adverse publicity by media regarding the country’s security situation.

Some tried to give a wrong picture to the international community that the security situation in the country was similar to that of the situation after the LTTE attack on the Katunayake Air Force base and the international airport in July 2001.

The Government had to take a decision to stop night flights from 10.30 p.m. to 4.30 a.m. The decision was taken considering the safety of the civilian flights arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport and also considering the safety of the passengers.

Some airlines had to reschedule their flights due to this decision but they firmly stood with the Government’s decision considering the safety of air passengers.

Cathay Pacific is the only airline that suspended their flights to Katunayake airport. It has now been understood that they have suspended their operations to Katunayake as they were not having enough planes to reschedule their flights, not due to security reasons.

Katunayake airport is not the only international airport closed for night flights. In Japan, USA, Australia and many other countries some airports are closed during night.

However, adverse media reports on the situation had disturbed many quarters of the international community including London-based Insurance companies.

Considering the situation London Based Insurance companies assigned AEGIS, a specialised risk management company to assess the security situation of the Katunayake airport prior to taking a decision to impose a war risk surcharge on flights arriving at the Katunayake airport.

A team from AEGIS had a week long programme in Sri Lanka since May 7 to assess safety measures at the Katunayake airport.

The same Risk Management Company arrived in Sri Lanka in 2001 too to assess the security of the Katunayake airport in the aftermath of the LTTE attack on Katunayake Air Base and Katunayake international airport.

Following that report submitted by the AEGIS, London based insurance underwriters imposed a war risk premium on flights bound for Katunayake.

The AEGIS team that arrived in Sri Lanka for the assessment after the LTTE air attack met officers of the Civil Aviation Authority, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Katunayake Airport Management and Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Roshan Gunatilleka.

They also visited the Katunayake Air Base and Ratmalana Air base to observe the Air Defence System and how the radars function to detect suspicious air movements.

The team which carried out this security assessment had debriefed Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Monday about their findings and expressed satisfaction about the measures taken by the Government to improve the security of the airport.

The Risk Management Company conveyed that one of the major reasons for them not to recommend a War Risk Surcharge was the closure of the airport during the night.

They said the Government had considered the safety of passengers by taking a decision to close the airport from 10.30 p.m. to 4.30 a.m.

The team assured that they would recommend the Insurance Companies not to impose any War Risk Surcharge on Colombo bound flights as they were satisfied with the measures taken by the Government specially the closure of the airport during night.

Therefore, this is a great victory on the part of the Government. If a surcharge was imposed on Colombo bound flights it would have greatly affected the economy with direct consequences on the tourism industry. As Government took these critical steps considering all aspects of the problem. The Sri Lanka Air Force too has taken effective measures to face the air threat posed by the LTTE.

The Air Force not only increased night surveillance but also installed more radars to detect suspicious air movements. Apart from the installation of radars, the Air Force also increased night patrolling in the North to detect suspicious air movements of the LTTE.

However, they had not observed a single air movement of the LTTE since April 29. Going through the patterns of the air raids that had taken place on March 26 and April 29, it has been revealed that the pilots had taken advantage of moonlight to plot their flight path.

Under these circumstances, the Air Force had not ruled out the possibility of a repetition of an air attack by the LTTE.

According to Air Force, the fighter jets of the Air Force will be the prime target of any such air attack as it is the biggest challenge faced by the Tigers in the recent past.

The air raids had completely paralysed the training activities of the LTTE as many training bases had come under air raids during the past few months.

The Air Force had not even spared the Sea Tiger bases and their storage facilities directly taking the targets from the air.

Therefore, there is no doubt that the LTTE would not relax their efforts to destroy the fighter jets of the Air Force. According to the assessments by the Air Force, air bases in Colombo, Katunayake, Trincomalee and Vavuniya can be focused targets of the LTTE.

With these assessments, the Air Force had taken measures to counter air threats of the LTTE and carried out many rehearsals activating the Air Defence System at Katunayake to effectively face such attacks.

The Air Force had also come out with many innovative methods to overcome the shortage of state-of-the art equipment that can be used as interceptor, to counter any pending air threat by the LTTE.

The Air Force had improved its network to observe suspicious air movements. As the public too are well aware of the situation it will be a difficult task for the LTTE to fly a long way from Wanni to Colombo to cause mayhem using their light aircraft.

Though some people were critical of the SLAF failure to destroy the Tiger air capabilities, with a blind eye to the equipment and assets available with them, the same critics are coming out with scathing remarks regarding the decision taken by the Government to acquire four MiG 29 fighter jets.

Though some people were critical of the decision to acquire Russian made MiG 29 fighter jets to face the challenge posed by the LTTE saying that the Government is going for more expensive means to counter the threat, the decision has been taken considering all aspects, not just the LTTE air threat.

The multi-functional MiG - 29 basic version fighter is capable of hitting air targets day and night in any weather, in free air space and against the earth background and in active and passive jamming environment.

Rugged landing gear and protective intake grates mean the MiG 29 can operate from the damaged or under-prepared airstrips.

The MiG 29 also can be tasked for escort duties for local strike and interdiction air packages, protect vulnerable ground attack aircraft and also ensure that ground forces operate under a safe air umbrella, moving forward with the troops as they advance.

Since most fighter jets available with the SLAF have to be grounded within the next few years the acquisition of Russian made MiG-29s will keep the SLAF on a more advantageous footing not only to face the LTTE air threat but also to provide security for ground troops.

Under these circumstances any criticism against the Government for opting for the MiG 29 can be negated considering the workload that can be done using this fighter jet.

The option is more viable in any eventuality to face the increased air threat by the LTTE though it is not expected under present situation.

Therefore, the speeding up of the acquisition of MiG - 29 either from Russia or Ukraine will place the Air Force in a more advanced position and enhance the people’s confidence in the SLAF in the wake of the threat posed by the Tiger outfit.

MiG 29 - flying high worldwide

The mission of the MiG-29 is to destroy hostile air targets within radar coverage limits and also to destroy ground targets using unguided weapons in visual flight conditions.

The aircraft’s fixed-wing profile with large wing leading edge root extensions gives good manoeuvrability and control at subsonic speed including manoeuvres at high angles of attack.

The MiG-29 fighter is equipped with seven external weapon hardpoints. It also has an information and fire control radar system.

The aircraft can carry up to two R-27 air-to-air medium-range missiles; six R-73 and R-60 air-to-air short range missiles; four pods of S-5, S-8, S-24 unguided rockets; air bombs weighing up to 3,000kg; and 30mm built-in aircraft gun with 150 rounds of ammunition.

The aircraft is equipped with an information and fire control radar system comprising: an N-019 radar developed by Phazotron Research and Production Company, Moscow; an infrared search and track sensor; a laser rangefinder;and a helmet-mounted target designator.

For longer-range air combat, the MiG-29 uses radar guidance for the R-27 missile.

The engines provide a maximum speed of 2,400km/h at altitude and 1,500km/h near the ground and the service ceiling is 18,000m. The maximum range at altitude is 1,500km and 700km near the ground.

The MiG-29 is a widely exported aircraft.