Tuesday’s failure to shoot down a
single LTTE aircraft despite timely detection by radar has jolted
the SLAF into investigating its limitations amidst evidence that
the enemy has acquired a capability to neutralise the threat of a
heat seeking missile attack.
An authoritative source said that Chinese F7s launched from
Katunayake air base had failed to zero-in-on the enemy aircraft.
"Their (F7s) missile systems failed to ‘lock on with the enemy
aircraft," the source said. This would necessitate an overall
review of the SLAF’s strategy, the source said. The military
asserted that the LTTE could try to exploit the situation.
The initial detection had been made north-east of Mannar at 10.18
p.m. by 2D radar installed by the Government of India at the SLAF
base at Vavuniya.
Thaladdi had come under attack within minutes after the detection, the source said.
Both the Indian radar and a Chinese 3D radar station located in
the Western Province had detected the enemy aircraft but
interceptors failed to carry out a successful missile strike. 2D radar
provides direction and the distance of a target whereas the
Chinese radar provides even the altitude of a target.
Sri Lanka Air Force F-7BS fighter--photoed by Rogier Westerhuis
