Two were overhauled in SL in 2017

Yes but what about the rest? Didnt they receive 6 brand new F7-GS in 2008? Why were those "brand New" planes grounded after about 3-4 years? Sounds like another shady deal. There is no information as to why they were grounded even.

Now those less than 10 year old planes have to be overhauled to be used. Either they weren't new at all when receiving (which is strange since the GS version is optimise to SLAF specifications) or they are just terrible quality.

Sad to see people can't see an obvious corrupt deal.

We all know how 'Business' is done in Sri Lanka - why do people expect this to be any different? I wish people would stop being so naive.

$5 Million for 6 of these Chinese junk aircraft means they cost $833,000 each. Right.

As a comparison a brand new C-172 will cost $300,000. And that's with G1000 avionics and ADS-B in/out.

$833,000 will buy you a 4 year old Baron B-58 also with G1000 avionics. This can be used for coastal patrol, medevac, VIP transport and you can operate it from any airport in the country.

Of course no kickbacks are possible when buying these aircraft which is why they're not being bought.


So here's my guess about the breakdown of this deal:-

$2.5 Million purchase price. (Still too much but that includes the Chinese 'Cut')
$2.5 Million in kickbacks to senior air force staff and politicians.
$300,000 Commission based on a rate of 6%.

It's just another MiG deal.

Good deal for a few - terrible deal for the people of Sri Lanka.

Anyone from the Air Force involved in this is a disgrace to the uniform and the country.


Another deal that will not be investigated - a culture of impunity and zero accountability.

SLAF recieved 4 F7 GS ,that were not brand new but converted/upgraded airframes, currently I think there are 3 F7s operational including 2 F7 GS

Yes F7s that we received in 2007 was not brand new ones. We needed small scale interceptors to intercept LTTE's Zlin aircrafts (Kurumbatti). I don't sure whether they are reburished either before we got it, because there was a emergency.

And however we were able to intercept one of their Zlín Z 43 in 2009, which was first ever Air Kill of SLAF using these F7s.

May be your assumption is right. Specially from the price perspective you got the point. Prices should be lower

But when we think about maintainability and cost of maintaining Chinese aircrafts are cheaper than western ones. and also there is a maintainence/spare parts package warrenty when buying aircrafts. not only just aircraft price. and i think they considered fact that SLAF already got Chinese Aircraft overfauled facility.

During war time once US refused to give spare parts for Bell helicopters of SLAF. and also in 80s Sri Lanka Army got many British Armored Vehicles. England also refused to give spares and ammunition for these vehicles in late 80s. That was main reason SL heavily rely of Chinese and Russian vehicles there after.

Russia, Pakistan and China are all weather friends of SL. So if you think strategically its a good move to buy from them but as you said with accountability.

That may have been the case in the past - now these deals are all about the Kickbacks and Commissions.

It's all about the money - nothing else. I'm sure you all know plenty of Sri Lankans who would sell their own mothers for a few Rupees.

Very naive to think that the countries you listed are "friends" - they all have their own agendas.

Yes. of course! but if you think like that we couldn't do anything with any countries. All the countries have their own agendas. It is not common for defense.

"It's all about the money" yes. Almost everything in this world is about money. This is a universal problem....

In other countries you have something called "The Rule of Law"

This means there is accountability and people are put on trial and punished according to their crimes.

In Sri Lanka there is a culture of impunity and zero accountability. The Rule of Law doesn't exist at all imho.

The problem with the country isnt really the cu
Corruption, but the negativity. People here always find something wrong, even when our government, in all its "wisdom", occasionally present a good idea everyone is negative about it.

People here critisice but no one is willing to do anything about it. Too lazy so all they do is complain.

Oh right thanks for clarifying!

I beleive they actually have 4 because at the air show in march 2017 two were seen flying. Then later that year 2 were overhauled. That's a total of four. 3 F7GS and 1 FT-7 trainer

3 F-7 only in operation, no more, no less, and just 1 Kfir C2.

(2x) F-7GS; SFI-782, SFI-783.
(1x) FT-7; SFT-703.

Oh ok. So they overhauled one that was already working? Or did its flight hours expire and immediately started working on it

what happened to the SU-30 deal for SLAF?

I think PT-6 has been delivered to Sri Lanka. Notsure how many were delivered?
It seems to be Female Air force pilots are training on this aircraft.