US Bolsters Sri Lanka’s Air Force with TH-57 Fleet

COLOMBO (News 1st); The United States has announced a major step to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following lessons learned from recent crises like Cyclone Ditwah.

In a move hailed as a game-changer for emergency preparedness, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo confirmed the transfer of ten U.S. Navy TH-57 helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) under the Excess Defense Articles Program.

The TH-57 helicopters—Bell 206 Sea Rangers, manufactured in Texas and renowned for their reliability—are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka in early 2026. These aircraft will significantly enhance SLAF’s fleet and pilot training capacity, ensuring faster and more effective search-and-rescue operations during natural disasters.

On 18th November 2025, speaking during the debate on allocations for the Ministry of Defence and Public Security, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara detailed a series of agreements with global partners aimed at upgrading the country’s defense capabilities.

“The United States will supply 10 TH57 helicopters,” he said.