விக்கியில் சில நாட்களுக்கு முன்னர் போட்டது. ஆதாரங்கள் திரட்டி எழுதினது வீணாகப் போய்விடக் கூடாது என்பதால் இங்கே இதனை இணைத்து விடுகிறேன். 

 

• Improvised Aircrafts:

The LTTE had modified 2 of their 5 Zlín Z 43 to carry 4 x 60kg (132 lb) un-guided bombs. The explosives payload consisted of 55 kg of C-4 with ball bearings. The bomb rack and arming mechanism were believed to have been locally produced. {https://cupdf.com/document/dossier-on-ltte-weapons.html} They also diverted the exhaust pipe of their planes to the front side of the plane, in such a manner that the IR-guided air-to-air missiles of SLAF jet attack aircraft could not detect the heat signature from their aircraft engines. {https://www.dailynews.lk/2020/01/18/local/208783/slaf-most-experienced-air-force-combatting-terrorism-pm%3C/ref%3E} When commenting about this technique, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told the media that ''This was the first time the world had encountered such a terrorist tactic.'' {https://www.dailynews.lk/2020/01/18/local/208783/slaf-most-experienced-air-force-combatting-terrorism-pm%3C/ref%3E}

Tamil Tigers also explored the possibility of using commercially available recreational radio-controlled aircraft for certain operational missions like aerial surveillance and aerial flying bombs {https://cupdf.com/document/dossier-on-ltte-weapons.html}

 

• Capabilities of the Sky Tigers:

According to manufacturers Morovan Aeroplanes, the Sky Tigers could make the Zlin easy to fly at night or in low visibility conditions because of the ''night and IFR (instrument flight rules) training and flying, and great flight characteristics and additional instruments''’. Also, the aircraft had a small profile that made it easy to fly at a low level of around 300 feet(91m) {https://www.nation.lk/2009/02/22/news6.htm}  to avoid radar detection. By swooping in on their targets at speeds of around 100km/h, the Sky Tigers have ensured that their radar return could not be distinguished from that of a lorry, making them almost impossible to pick out {https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/feature1270/}

Since the military has put up anti-aircraft RADAR and stepped up combat air patrols, the rebels have usually kept their flights short {https://www.reuters.com/article/us-srilanka-war-airtigers-sb-idUSTRE51J68J20090220} And the bonus is that the Sri Lankan authorities admitted after the first raid that they don’t have the night-flying capability. {https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/feature1270/} {https://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-flying-tigers-hold-sri-lanka-to-ransom-1093987} The Air Tigers took advantage of this to fly over the base unintercepted and bomb it. {https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/26raman.htm} These bombings showed the skills acquired by the TAF pilots in night operations. {https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/air-tigers-at-night/234505}

When addressing the SLAF in 2020, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told the media about the Sky Tigers that, ''... Using small, slow, low-flying modified aircraft for nighttime air attacks was another innovation of the LTTE to the global terrorism...'' {https://www.dailynews.lk/2020/01/18/local/208783/slaf-most-experienced-air-force-combatting-terrorism-pm}

 

• Aircraft manufacturing factory:

In the year 2009, Feb 19, Sri Lankan security forces found two partially burnt LTTE aircraft at Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaittivu, which the military believes were under construction. According to ground sources, one craft found was classified as a light fixed-wing craft while the other was an unmanned aircraft (UAV). This aircraft construction site was well fortified. {https://lankadailynews.com/2009/02/partially-burnt-2-ltte-aircraft-found-in-puthukkudiyirippu-mullaittivu} {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4zaRVxPQCg}. The LTTE is the only organization that has assiduously tried to build up its own air capability. The aircraft repair yard, however elementary, indicated that the LTTE worked to a plan to build, maintain and operate its own inventory. {https://cupdf.com/document/dossier-on-ltte-weapons.html}

Edited October 8, 20214 yr by நன்னிச் சோழன்