Aviation News – The United States Navy has transferred 10 TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force, boosting pilot training capacity and enhancing the country’s ability to respond to disasters and humanitarian missions.
The helicopters were delivered in early January at no cost under the U.S. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program, which reallocates surplus American military equipment to partner nations. Managed by the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273), the transfer reflects broader defense cooperation between Washington and Colombo, with the aircraft expected to serve both training and operational roles across Sri Lanka’s air force fleet.
Originally designed as a rotary-wing training platform, the TH-57 Sea Ranger provides stable handling, low operating costs and proven reliability, making it well suited for basic and advanced pilot instruction. Its versatility also allows crews to conduct light transport, search-and-rescue and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, particularly valuable in a region prone to floods and cyclones.
Photo US Navy