MIGs,

Catalyst in air superiority

Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The two pilots knew they were closing on to the target when they were passing the Kilinochchi telecommunication tower. It was quite early in the morning with a thick mist covering the entire space above the tree canopy. The greenery had grown thicker over the years. Instead of the straight path they took a diverted route through Puthukudduirippu towards Kilinochchi for the surprise attack.

The target was set amidst a densely populated area in Kilinochchi to the East side of the A9 road and the two jets - a Kfir and a MiG-27 of the Sri Lanka Air Force - were aiming at a prime target of the LTTE. Targeting has to be precise and only within the restricted area, according to Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilake’s strict orders. Hence, the Kfir and the MiG-27 pilots, selected for the mission, were the best and the most experienced.

The two sky warriors approached stealthily in pursuit of their target and did not waste a millisecond as a surprise attack would be the key to their success.

All these happened in a fraction of a second on that fateful day, November 2, 2007. The LTTE VVIP convoy started moving exactly as per the intelligence information the Sri Lanka Air Force received. Taking the panther front the two fighter jets attacked the LTTE convoy carrying their VVIP, the Political Wing Leader S.P. Thamilselvam killing him and several other LTTE cadres on the spot. A Black Tiger base located in the vicinity was also another scheduled target of the SLAF.

This was a severe blow to the LTTE and was a turning point in their downfall. This crucial attack marked history in the two fighter jet squadrons especially of the MiG squadron being the youngest fighter jet squadron in the SLAF.

The shock the LTTE suffered due to Thamilselvan’s killing was evident in their grieving statement posted on the web: “With deep sorrow we announce to the people of Tamil Ealam, the Tamil people living all over the world and the international community, that at 6 a.m. today (November 2) head of our organization’s political wing S.P. Thamilselvam was killed by the Sri Lankan Air Force aerial bombing.”

MiG-27

MiG-27 played a crucial part in destroying the LTTE sea power in the seas off Mullaitivu. The small attack crafts of the LTTE targeted the Sri Lanka Navy boats on patrol and vanish into their hideouts. With the surveillance provided by the UAVs and the beachcraft the Farah III ship’s wreckage, stranded in the seas off Mullaitivu was identified as the LTTE hideout.

The SLAF was given the order to get rid of the sea tiger menace. After a detailed study of the area, the SLAF launched their mission giving the MiG-27s the major responsibility. The hideouts were accurately targeted and destroyed terminating the threat on the ongoing operations by the security forces.

MiG aircraft played a significant role in the ongoing war against LTTE terrorism.

The MiG-17F fighter bombers and the MiG-15UTI trainer first joined the SLAF in April 1971 during the tenure of the Sirimavo Badaranaike regime period, a gift from the Russian Government. Later, in year 2000, several years after the first set of MiGs retired from service, the SLAF acquired five new MiG-27s to their fighter jet fleet and a MiG-23UB trainer was inducted the next year. At present the SLAF has acquired altogether seven MiG-27 aircraft.

Initially the MiG aircraft were in the No.5 Fighter jet squadron of the SLAF together with the F-7 jets. In November 2007, Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilake decided to bifurcate the two types of fighter jets into two squadrons for effective maintenance and operations. It created the environment to raise MiG experts in the Sri Lankan Air Force as well. Hence, the MiGs were renamed the No.12 fighter jet squadron - the youngest jet squadron of the SLAF.

The MiG-27 is well known for its skills in launching attacks at which the SLAF pilots resort to in their missions though their counter parts in many advanced countries are reluctant to undertake such risks. MiG serves as the best weapon for surprise attacks it is claimed.

MIG squadron is the first to start night time flying. According to aircraft experts of the SLAF, MiG-27 had more favourable qualities to insert night time flying facilities into the cockpit. The SLAF started their night time flying way ahead of the so called LTTE air capability.

Orbit around

According to experts, before the MIG-27 came into operation the fighter jets had to orbit around the target making their operation obvious to the LTTE cadres who went in to hiding escaping the attack. With its capability to attack at low level, the MiGs undertook successful missions both independently and jointly.

The MiG can carry more ammunition and explosives and still attack the target successfully and return safely. During the short span of service in the SLAF as the youngest member the MiGs performances were found to be significant.

The squadron which has achieved high standard of accuracy and lethality in the ongoing operations, today stands in the vanguard in its operations against the LTTE.