Ten TH-57 ‘Sea Ranger’ multi-role helicopters, donated by the Government of the United States of America to the Sri Lanka Air Force, have arrived in Sri Lanka by sea.
The arrival of these aircraft marks a significant milestone in the longstanding defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States and represents a valuable contribution towards enhancing the operational and training capabilities of the Sri Lanka Air Force, according to the SLAF.
The helicopters are currently undergoing configuration and technical preparations at SLAF Base Ratmalana. Following the completion of requisite inspections, acceptance procedures, and test flights, the aircraft will be inducted into service and deployed for operational duties.
The TH-57 fleet is expected to significantly strengthen the Air Force’s aviation training capacity while enhancing its ability to support a broad spectrum of national requirements, it said.
The aircraft will primarily be employed for pilot training, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations, search and rescue (SAR) missions, and other public service commitments undertaken by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
