At last there is a breathless announcement of an LTTE tincan being shot down by one of the newly acquired F7G's, following the combined air-ground-artillery attack by them on the main Vavunia Special Forces camp.
What's disappointing is that the LTTE has already shot down scores of SLAF aircraft including high speed jets as well, with less sophisticated systems over the years. Over the past few months when the LTTE decided to carry out an air-strike, they've been able to execute them with no credible opposition other than a spectacular fire works display by the SLDF.
The SL Forces possesses much greater capabilities when compared to the LTTE, and yet have been unable to shoot down a couple of crop dusters. That is until now, provided the news about shooting one down is accurate. The desperate need to even cook up a success story at this point is understandable. Whether deliberate lying is excusable or acceptable, will be a matter of individual choice.
The issue here is not about weapons. It is definitely about training and deployment of assets to deal with each threat. It is true that the LTTE had the advantage of being able to watch and identify each flight before determining how to strike. And yet, the SL Forces who possess similar or even superior intelligence gathering capabilities are still falling by the way side.
I am reluctant to accept the zlin shoot down story without some concrete proof. If it was a missile strike, at least we'd have some assurance that once fired, there would be little or no escape for a prop-kite.
Speeches about what little harm the tiger tincan airforce did each time doesn't cut it. Neither is it ok to be talking about their inaccuracy or the non-exploding bombs. The SL forces need to have counter-measures that work and people who know how to make them work.
This is an issue of training and management capability and people must be held accountable for the failures so far.
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