Air Force Should Regain Aerial Monopoly

Dilrook Kannangara

There were many bad omens in the far horizons preceding the third (or fourth?) attack on the Katunayake air force base by LTTE terrorists. In numerous instances, terrorists have smuggled in light air craft and those who helped them in this regard remain at large. It is a humiliating strike that should at least now open the virtually blind eyes of defence authorities and law enforcement authorities to take stern action against the MP who was in the racket and many others culpable of similar offences.

With the terrorists launching air attacks, the conflict threatens to take a radical turn to the worse. It is the urgent and immediate need of the hour to neutralise terror air force assets, facilities and vicinities with ferocious aerial attacks.

Failure to do so will result in terror running down the spines of the population thus giving into the fear psychosis that terrorists are trying to create. Also it will create unprecedented destruction on the nation’s economy and military assets.
Also the attacks come amidst much ado surrounding the MiG-27 deal. Not only the LTTE was petrified at the widely acclaimed features of this fighter/bomber jet but also they understood the need and urgency to destroy the MiGs while on ground and before they take off with their fanciful weapons. This is not the first instance too much information divulgence on our aerial assets by LTTE worshiping media personnel and politicians have committed. Authorities should ensure that this is the last.

The vicinity of the Katunayake air force base must be protected at all costs. This cannot be over-emphasised. It was the fourth (may be more) time the LTTE terrorists attacked it and the JVP subversives also attacked it at least two times. We have had many eye-openers and re-reminders of impending terrorist activity. Defence authorities should at least now take maximum security measures to protect our Area-51 equivalent.

Another important factor is the need for continuous airborne surveillance. We should consider urgently many low-cost but effective constant surveillance systems available in the defence equipments market.

On a lighter note there is an astrological significance to 26th as it has many associations with evil. However, the material point is that the terrorists are capable of carrying out timed, targeted and stealthy air attacks using most primitive crafts. This shows our extreme lack of air defence systems. This is further magnified when considering the LTTE’s capability to counter Air Force attacks with their SAM batteries forcing the Air Force to enhance its technological edge by acquiring increasingly advanced bombers at colossal cost. This threat also called for the use of counter flares and other defensive measures. It is time we deploy anti-aircraft guns in strategic and important locations. Given the LTTE’s feeble fleet of planes, most surface-to-air attack systems would prove sufficient. The fact that the LTTE attack crafts escaped indicates another flaw in our air defence function. Our supersonic jets and gunships were not put to proper use in detecting and destroying the two responsible LTTE air crafts, their landing strips, support infrastructure, control towers and air bases.

Another developing story in the background is the LTTE racket with Al-Qaeda in concerting the September 11 attacks. By repeating after six years a similar attack that inducted Al-Qaeda to follow suit within one and a half months, the LTTE has displayed their complete disregard of international pressure. Actually there exists no genuine international pressure on the terrorists as they can engage in any kind of warfare without repercussions. We have to take a pre-emptive stance to stop further terror attacks; already terrorists have promised more attacks.

What about tonight? Obviously people who live near military and other installations would spend sleepless nights in fear. Condolences, condemnation and other worthless statements achieve nothing except humiliating those who made the supreme sacrifice in battling the terror menace. It is shameful to ask people’s cooperation without doing their homework. If the terrorists have attacked Katunayake after suffering heavy losses in the North and the East, doesn’t it mean that they have settled a score and won in Katunayake what they lost in N-E? The government should take full responsibility for the attack and alleviate fear that haunts people. If the government is to be further intimidated by terrorists, it will essentially reverse all the recent hard fought victories. We now know where it hurts most for the terrorists and should intensify aerial assaults on them.

We also need to canvass for international support as it is inevitable that LTTE’s newfound technology will have a spillover effect on other terror groups around the world. For instance martyrs of Jihad around the world would take this an easy step further into kami-kazi style attacks as evidenced from the 9/11 attacks. It is feeble minded to think that other terror groups will not consider their cousin’s new technology.

The critical need at this juncture is to swiftly retaliate and hit-back targeting LTTE air facilities causing complete destruction. We are faced with the sad reality that we have to fight the most dangerous terrorists in the world who are the only terror group to have naval and aerial capabilities. These capabilities just got to be neutralised. The SLAF should regain its supreme command over Sri Lankan skies.