Of Aircrafts and Desertions

The LTTE's Zlin light aircrafts have been detected by the existing Air Defence System (Radar) on several occasions, including the last attack on Anuradhapura Airbase. The lack of Anti Aircraft guns in each army detachment upto Anuradhapura has prevented ground forces challenging the two planes from proceeding to their target each time. They also seem to be avoiding flights over large Military Bases that are equipped with various types of AA guns (varieties cannot be revealed).

The Sri Lanka Army believe the LTTE is operating four airstrips at Iranamadu, Puthukudiiruppu, Nendunkerni and Mannar North. All four have been bombed in the past, including two hangars at Iranamadu, but the Zlin light-aircrafts had been moved from that location long before. The small aircrafts are capable of landing on hard surfaces, unlike the jet fighters of the SLAF. The Army believe the airplanes have detachable or swinging wings allowing them to be swiftly uploaded onto freight containers and transported to a safe location after each attack. They also believe the LTTE possesses two small choppers. All aircrafts operate at night, which indicates that the LTTE pilots have acquired night-flying capabilities assisted by Pilot Night Vision Systems.

Meanwhile a heartwarming account of a child soldier killed in a confrontation with the Army along the Vanni FDL has come to light. This child soldier, in a letter addressed to his mother had lamented his predicament citing the difficulties he face while in the LTTE on a daily basis. He had last remembered how his mother used to find a living for him and his younger sisters and brothers while working as a day labourer.

These and other stories from LTTE cadres along the Vanni FDL provide a contrast to the pomp and pageant in Kilinochchi following the LTTE's recent attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force base. They are in stark contrast to the images posted in pro-LTTE websites of motivated units marching to battle. In fact many new recruits posted along the FDL have started deserting the organization in the face of Army's limited bunker-busting operations along the Mannar-Vavuniya FDL and the heavy downpour brought on by the Monsoon.

Monitored radio communication indicated that senior and more seasoned cadres mixed in with the new recruits to prevent desertion and face Army onslaughts are complaining that the new recruits do not follow them into battle. As a result, LTTE units are unable to send reinforcements each time the Army attacks them and seem partially handicapped along the Vanni FDL. However, Military Intelligence sources indicated that the LTTE maybe preparing for a surprise attack as soon as the bad weather conditions ceased. With heavy downpour, the tanks, rivers and streams quickly fill up and provide natural debacles for infantry units on both sides.

Confirmations and More Blunders

The exact damages caused to aircrafts at the Anuradhapura SLAF base have been finally publicized by several media organizations this weekend. The same details were revealed by DefenceWire six days ago on October 23rd, prior to any official figures being released or newspaper reports indicating the accurate number lost. The current publicized and accurate figure is 23 fully damaged aircrafts and one partially damaged aircraft (MI24). These figures are as follows;

3- UAVs
1- Beech Super King B200T (C-12 Huron)
7- PT6 Trainers
1- Mi-17
1- Mi-24
6- K-8 Trainers
4- Siai Marchetti Bombers

Meanwhile renowned defence journalist Iqbal Athas has corrected himself regarding the interview given to the Hindustan Times of India that the Beech Super King was used for deep-sea Aerial Reconnaissance. This mistake was first highlighted by DefenceWire on October 25th. In his now irregular weekly defence column 'The Situation Report' (October 28th) he says that;

Contrary to a foreign media outlet, which misquoted me, the loss of this aircraft does not hamper deep-sea naval operations. However, it very badly hampers aerial surveillance activity over deep seas. Inputs from such surveillance helped in naval operations in a very large measure.

DefenceWire believes Athas has made another blunder when he said the Beechcraft has helped naval operations 'in a very large measure' since the last time the aircraft assisted the Navy was last September off Kalmunai when it captured the images of a fast-moving cargo boat, which was later destroyed.