🇱🇰 Sri Lanka to Procure Four Israeli UAVs for Rs 4.26 Bn to Boost Maritime Surveillance

Sri Lanka plans to acquire four advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Israel’s BlueBird Aero Systems (a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries) for Rs 4,261 Mn under a government-to-government agreement to strengthen maritime security and emergency response. • Overall Procurement Details: - Cost: Rs 4,261 Mn (US$ equivalent funded internally). - Fleet: 4 UAVs, including two ThunderB models featuring up to 14-hour endurance, alongside long-range models supporting up to 20-hour endurance and vertical/short take-off capabilities. - Package: Includes full operational training and 3 years of maintenance support. • Strategic & Economic Rationale: - Coverage: Designed to monitor Sri Lanka’s 517,000 sq km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)—an area 27 times larger than its landmass. - Functions: Continuous surveillance to track suspicious vessels, assist missing fishermen, and provide rapid disaster response during floods and cyclones. - Cost Savings: Replaces high-cost conventional aircraft maritime patrols. • Financial Alignment: - Fully funded by reallocating existing Air Force helicopter maintenance budgets via Financial Regulation 66, requiring no additional state funds. • Timeline: - Pending final parliamentary approval, Attorney General review, and Cabinet submission, with contract signing targeted for December 2026.