In News:India handed over a Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, reaffirming its security ties with the island nation.
Security of India and Sri Lanka are enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation. Gifting of Dornier 228 is India’s latest contribution to this cause.
The Indian gift was in response to a request from the Sri Lankan government in 2018 for two Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft to enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of the island nation
The gift to Sri Lanka will equip the country to contribute more towards the security of the Indian Ocean Region at large.
Sri Lanka is a member of the ‘Colombo Security Conclave’, which began as a trilateral initiate involving India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and later included Mauritius, for maritime cooperation in the region.
Dornier 228
The Dornier 228 is a general aircraft with twin engines capable of carrying at least 19 passengers.
With its Short-Take off and Landing (STOL) capability, it is capable of operating on short runways as well as in hot environments.
The Dornier 228 has been marketed as a general-service aircraft capable of operating in many roles such as military transport, couter aircraft or cargo hauler.
It carries our special missions such as:
Maritime Surveillance
Border Patrol
Medical Evacuations
Search and Rescue
Paradrops
Environmental research
It is fitted with special equipment such as 360-degree surveillance radar, searchlights, operator stations, enlarged fuel tanks, satellite uplink etc.