US Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, officially handed over a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) at a ceremony on Thursday at SLAF Base Katunayake.The aircraft, a gift from the United States, symbolizes the ongoing U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership and represents a critical advancement in strengthening Sri Lanka’s maritime security and sovereignty.

The event saw attendance from U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa. The aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance technology, is designed to bolster Sri Lanka’s capacity to patrol its territorial waters, counter maritime threats, and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean.

Ambassador Julie Chung highlighted the aircraft’s importance, emphasizing its role in reinforcing the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership and Sri Lanka’s efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. “As partners, the United States shares Sri Lanka’s vision that security is a collective responsibility, as our seas connect us. Maritime domain awareness is crucial to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s maritime trade routes, which are the lifeblood of its economy,” she stated. “While the oceans are rich in economic opportunities, they are also vulnerable to significant threats—from illegal fishing to smuggling, human trafficking, and other illegal, coercive, and deceitful activities. It is my hope that this Beechcraft King Air will serve as a constant guardian of your nation’s peace and prosperity, always vigilant in defending what is rightfully yours.”

Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Commander of the SLAF, welcomed the addition of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER, calling it a milestone in the longstanding U.S.-Sri Lanka defense partnership. “The induction of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft is one of the instrumental steps in augmenting the Air Force’s airpower for maritime domain awareness,” he remarked. “This substantiates our enhanced focus on ensuring maritime security and broadening HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region as a responsible and key stakeholder nation. Further, this advanced ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platform will be the latest addition to the ongoing efforts of fostering collective security and interoperability to face the threats in the air and maritime domains and curb transnational crime in our region. We look forward to playing a greater role in the regional maritime domain awareness, particularly in maritime surveillance, monitoring, and patrolling whilst fulfilling our obligations to regional peace and security.”

Admiral Koehler reiterated the U.S. commitment to the region, stating, “Today’s ceremony is about much more than one aircraft; it’s about our two nations’ commitment to protecting sovereignty and addressing complex maritime challenges together in the Indian Ocean. I look forward to strengthening our partnership and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules-based international order.”

The King Air aircraft, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity program, was manufactured by Beechcraft Textron Aviation and completed in 2022, with maritime surveillance upgrades added in 2024. SLAF personnel received specialized training in Kansas and Florida to operate the aircraft, and additional training is set to take place with U.S. personnel over the next three months. The King Air 360ER will undergo final preparations at Ratmalana Air Force Base before joining Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 in China Bay, Trincomalee.