No. 6 Squadron SLAF
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{{Infobox Military Unit|
|unit_name= No. 6 Helicopter Squadron
|image=File:Mi17-March2011-02.JPG
|caption=SLAF Mi17 of No. 6th squadron during Fire exercise
|dates= 1993 - to present day
|country=
|allegiance=
|branch= Sri Lanka Air Force
|type=
|role= Air transport
|size=
|command_structure=
|garrison=SLAF Anuradhapura
|garrison_label=Station
|nickname=
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|motto=
|colors=
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|equipment= Mil Mi-171, Mi-171SH, Mi-171E
|equipment_label=
|battles=Sri Lankan Civil War
United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad
United Nations Mission in South Sudan
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|current_commander=Wing Commander Kalinga Maheepala
|commander2=
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|identification_symbol=
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}}
No. 6 Helicopter Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates Mil Mi-17s from SLAF Anuradhapura for troop transport.
History
The squadron was formed on March 15, 1993 SLAF Katunayake with the arrival of Mil Mi-17s. It was later moved to SLAF Vavuniya on April 29, 1993. The unit is tasked with the air movement of the Air Mobile Brigade of the Sri Lanka Army.
In 2014, Sri Lanka Air Force deployed an aviation unit, No. 62 Helicopter Flight under the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, with three Mi-17 helicopters from the No. 6 Helicopter Squadron along with 122 personnel consisting pilots, engineers and other supporting staff.[http://helihub.com/2014/09/12/slaf-deploys-an-aviation-unit-under-un-mission-in-central-african-republic/ Sri Lanka deploys unit under UN Mission in Central African Republic] This was followed by a deployment to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.{{cite web |title=Force Commander of United Nation Mission South Sudan Visits Sri Lanka Aviation Unit in South Sudan |url=http://www.airforce.lk/news.php?news=4171 |website=airforce.lk |accessdate=8 October 2020}}
In March 2021, the squadron was presented with the President’s Colours by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/03/05/pictures-presidents-colors-for-02-squadrons-of-sri-lanka-air-force/|title=(PICTURES) President's Colors for 02 Squadrons of Sri Lanka Air Force|date=5 March 2021}}https://www.army.lk/news/air-force-awards-colours-two-squadrons
Aircraft operated
Year of introduction
Notable members
- Air Chief Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala
- Air Chief Marshal Kapila Jayampathy
- Air Chief Marshal Sumangala Dias
- Air Vice Marshal Kapila Wanigasooriya
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.airforce.lk/est/kat/kat.htm Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404055347/http://www.airforce.lk/est/kat/kat.htm |date=2009-04-04 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090206094446/http://scramble.nl/lk.htm www.scramble.nl]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071230104031/http://www.airforce.lk/hist/hist1/h3c5p2.htm Sri Lanka Air Force Old Wings New Wings]
- [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2009/06/07/imp01.asp Ruling the sky]
- [http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/rise-of-No-6-Helicopter-Squadron-of-SLAF/131-197435 rise of No 6 Helicopter Squadron of SLAF]
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