Ukrainian MiG 27 deal beneficial to SLAF says excommander-Final payments in $ 14 mn deal were made at

the conclusion of the war

By Shamindra Ferdinando-March 31, 2015, 12:00 pm

Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke yesterday said that an agreement
with Ukraine as regards overhauling of four MiG 27s and acquisition of four
overhauled MiGs had been finalized to Sri Lankas advantage.
The agreement had been reached in the run-up to the eelam war IV in
August 2006, ACM Goonetileke said, adding that the final payments were
made after having used MiGs with devastating success. MiGs carried out
854 sorties using explosives weighing 1,071 tonnes.
The celebrated No 12 squadron based at Katunayake air base consisted of
MiGs. The No 12 squadron was meant to supplement the No 10 squadron
comprising Israeli Kfirs, also based at Katunayake. Sri Lanka acquired Kfirs
during 1996.
"Final payments for MiGs were made at the conclusion of the offensive,"
ACM Goonetileke said in an exclusive with The Island. Nearly six years
after the eradication of terrorism, people had conveniently forgotten that a
MiG 27 had teamed up with a Kfir to carry out target killing of LTTE front
liner S. P. Thamilchelvam on the morning of Nov. 2, 2007 in Kilinochchi.
The combined security forces brought the war to a successful conclusion
on May 19, 2009.

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on March 27 questioned

ACM Goonetileke regarding controversial MiG transaction finalised during
Mahinda Rajapaksas tenure as the President. Son of one-time SLAF
Commander ACM Harry Goonetileke, Roshan lost his brother, Shirantha in
an LTTE missile attack on an Avro as it approached Palaly air base on the
morning of April 29, 1995.
Asked whether he had
benefited financially for
choosing MiG 27s, ACM
Goonetileke said that
enhancing of SLAFs power
had been a national priority.
ACM Goonetileke said: "In
the wake of an abortive bid to assassinate the then Army Chief Lt. Gen.
Sarath Fonseka in April 2005 and assassination of Foreign Minister
Lakshman Kadirgamar prompted the military to reassess the situation. We
realized an all-out war was inevitable. Therefore, preparations were
made."
ACM Donald Perera had sought Defence Ministry approval in Feb 2006 for
overhauling of four MiGs and acquisition of four additional MiGs, ACM
Goonetileke said. According to him, the total cost of the transaction had
cost the taxpayer $ 14 mn. In accordance with the agreement, Ukraine
had overhauled four MiGs in SLAF inventory in addition to supplying four
overhauled MiGs. Unfortunately a section of the media at the behest of
interested parties had accused the previous government of paying $ 14 mn
for four new additions to the MiG fleet.
Responding to another query, ACM Goonetileke said that in line with the
agreement Sri Lanka had paid 25 per cent of the total value of the
overhaul when the SLAF team flew in to Ukraine to accept the four new
additions to its MiG fleet. Once the SLAF took delivery of the aircraft at
Katunayake, another 25 per cent of the payment had been made though
the remaining 50 per cent was paid in 2009. The two giant aircraft which
carried the four new additions ferried the four MiGs that needed
overhauling to Ukraine free of freight charges. ACM Goonetileke said that
he welcomed the investigation as it would give him an opportunity to clear
the SLAF of any wrongdoing.
ACM Goonetileke said that the supplier allowed the SLAF to deploy four

overhauled additional MiGs against the LTTE after paying 50 per cent of
their value. The remaining amount had been paid in two instalments at the
conclusion of the war, he explained.
Sri Lanka acquired MiGs in 2000 during Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratungas presidency. According to ACM Goonetileke, the SLAF had
obtained seven MiGs, including one MiG 23 trainer during 2000. The
acquisition had been carried out in two phases, with the SLAF procuring
four aircraft in spite of them due to undergo first airframe overhaul. The
situation on the northern theatre of operations had been so bad, the SLAF
needed to enhance its fire power as soon as possible, the former air chief
said. "We pressed for the acquisition. Following special checks at the
Ukrainian factory, the SLAF took delivery of four aircraft. We were
authorized to use them for two years. Subsequently one-year extension
was given," Goonetileke said.
The retired Chief of Defence Staff said that of the seven MiGs acquired in
2000, the SLAF lost three and for want of overhauling the remaining
aircraft had been grounded as the combined forces prepared to face the
LTTE threat.
Soft spoken Goonetileke recalled the circumstances under which a tender
called by the SLAF to overhaul the four remaining aircraft of those acquired
during 2000 had been cancelled. "This cancellation was done during
Norway arranged Ceasefire Agreement. Perhaps, the then government felt
there was no requirement to overhaul aircraft due to CFA."
However, the SLAF had to enhance its firepower to overwhelm the LTTE.
ACM Goonetileke said that the No 10 Kfir and No 5 F7 GS squadrons
carried out about 1,400 and 400 sorties, respectively during the eelam war
IV. Altogether the jet squadrons carried out about 2,700 sorties. The No 10
Kfir squadron comprised ten machines. The SLAF acquired four Chinese F7
GS, the most sophisticated jet in Sri Lankas arsenal, in January 2008.
At the conclusion, ACM Goonetileke alleged that those finding fault with
acquisition of armaments didnt realize the difficulties experienced by Sri
Lanka during the war. Acquisition of armaments had been nothing but a
constant struggle, he noted, adding that the role played by jet squadron
comprising MiGs, Kfirs and F7 GS would never be forgotten by those who
fought on the frontlines, unlike arm chair experts and those seeking to

discredit the air force.

Another observer said the critics who tried to make a big issue over the
entire cost of the deal of US $14 million conveniently forget that many air
forces around the world pay many times more for even a single fighter
aircraft and for the price tag that the Sri Lanka paid for those aircraft it
was quite cheap even going by the tasks they achieved.
Posted by Thavam