Sri Lanka's navy has captured two remote-controlled aircraft potentially intended for use in surveillance operations during a strike operation against boats operated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist paramilitary operating in the north of the country.
The aircraft comprised a radio-control sailplane and an electric-powered helicopter. The sailplane has a span of 4m (13ft) and a fuselage length of 1.7m. The helicopter has an airframe length of approximately 0.3m according to a statement issued by the Sri Lankan navy.
"The aircraft was remote-controlled enabling it be deployed on aerial attacks and surveillance missions," the statement said. "There was, in addition, a toy-type helicopter with remote controls to be used for the same purpose had the occasion demanded."
The 11 October operations saw naval inshore patrol craft intercept the LTTE boats at daybreak in the Mannar sea off the north coast of Sri Lanka. The boats were also found to be carrying 10 GPS units, four satellite phones, 100 printed circuit boards and 45 radio antennas.
Capture of the aircraft supports previous Sri Lankan government claims that the LTTE has been operating unmanned air vehicles to support strikes against government forces.
"For the first time in the history of the military operations against the LTTE, the Sri Lankan navy has been able to capture an aircraft in the possession of the enemy," the statement said.
Photos released by the navy show no indications of either aircraft having been fitted with a sensor system, indicating conversion for operational usage would most likely occur in Sri Lanka itself.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
