| Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Crest of the SLAF Regiment | |
| Active | 1956–Present |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Branch | Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Type | Air Force Infantry |
| Role | Force Protection, Ground-Based Air Defence, Air Assault |
| Part of | Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Nickname | The Regiment |
| Motto | Constant Protection |
| March | Quick –Holyrood |
| Engagements | 1971 Insurrection Insurrection 1987-89 Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Director Ground Operations | Air Vice Marshal K Yahampath |
TheSri Lanka Air Force Regiment is a specialized ground combat branch within theSri Lanka Air Force, responsible for capturing and defendingairfields and associatedinstallations. Its members are the SLAF Regiment Officers and the airmen of operations ground specialization. The SLAF Regiment is fully capable of protecting all its air bases, installations by itself using infantry and light armored units as well as launchair assaults withAirborneInfantry elements (paratroopers). Ground-based air defence of vital military and civil installations around the country is carried out by the SLAF Regiment along with combatsearch and rescue missions (CSAR). The corps itself is simply known as the 'regiment'.
The first RCyAF Regiment Squadron was formed under Flt Lt Gerry W. Weeraratna in 1956 to provide ceremonial guards and security for bases and airfields of theRoyal Ceylon Air Force based on theRAF Regiment of theRoyal Air Force.[1] However the ground defence of the air bases and civil airports were supplemented by theCeylon Army. This limited the ability of the army to deploy it troops in offensive operations and made the air force dependent on the army. This was seen specially during the1971 JVP Insurrection.[citation needed]
With the start of theSri Lankan Civil War the SLAF Regiment underwent a large expansion due to the SLAF increasing the number of airfields and the threat to these from theLTTE. In 1971 SLAF Regiment was formed with 101 squadron, 102 squadron and the only one volunteers suqdron was formed as 106 squadron. In addition to that special squadron was formed as SLAF Commando Unit with elite 52 commandos commanded by Flt. Lt. J.E.Peiris. Later, The Regiment formations increased to a total of 25 Field Wings by 2000 and later to 45 Field Wings. When theSri Lanka Artillery disbanded its Anti-Aircraft Regiments in 1962, the air defence role ofSri Lanka has been taken up by the SLAF Regiment which it provides today, by the Land Based Air Defence Wing.[citation needed]
Since 1956, the SLAF Regiment frequently mounts the guard at thePresidents House. In March 2009, the SLAF Regiment was presented with thePresident’s Colours.[2]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
SLAF Regiment officers and gunners are organized into 45 Field Wings, which are subdivided into squadrons that are and further subdivided into flights specially trained in ground combat. As conduct of operations related to ground defence is placed under the purview of the Directorate of Ground Operations, the Director Ground Operations is the de facto commander of the SLAF Regiment.
At first the primary role was airfield security and ceremonial duties. In recent years with expansion of the number of wings the SLAF Regiment has begun supporting theSri Lanka Army in manning defence lines in the north central part of the country and taking part in offensive operations jointly or independently. SLAF Regiment detachments have been established in Morawawa, Pulukunawa-Mahaoya, Puliyankulam,Mankulam and Poovarasnkulam and has been deployed inTrincomalee and Peraru. But airfield security remains the corps primary task, members of the SLAF Regiment guards both Civilian and military airports around the country. It also handles the Ground-Based Air Defence role of the Sri Lankan military, protecting both civilian and military installations. To achieve its objectives the regiment usesinfantry,light armoured,parachute,mortar andanti-aircraft units.
In addition to these roles, the regiment carries out Airborne Rescue Operations and provide ground support such asExplosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) requirement of the Air Force, its personal serve as SLAF'sfirefighters andintelligence. The Regimental Training Centre is located atSLAF Ampara inAmpara.
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Regiment Special Force is an elite Special Forces unit of theSri Lanka Air Force, part of the SLAF Regiment, formerly Air Base Defence Rescue Squadron, established on 7 July 2003.
The task and role of RSF's Squadrons involves
SPECIAL AIR BORNE FORCE (SABF)
A highly trained troops primarily assigned for VIP Protection duties.
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Handguns Assault Rifles
| Sub-Machine guns Machine guns
| Sniper Rifles Grenade launchers
Rocket launchers
|
{{cite web}}:|archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
