미국, 스리랑카에 퇴역한 TH-57 (벨 206) 10기 지원

[위종민]

미국이 스리랑카에 퇴역한 TH-57 10기를 무상지원하네요. 미해군에서 훈련용으로 쓰던 물건이라고 합니다. 

스리랑카, 전(前) 미군 벨 206 헬리콥터 10대 인도받을 예정
마이크 라지쿠마르
2026년 1월 16일

미국은 중고 벨 TH-57 헬리콥터 10대를 스리랑카 공군에 이전하고 있다. (DSCA)

스리랑카 공군(SLAF)은 전(前) 미군 TH-57 헬리콥터 10대를 인도받을 예정이다. 벨 206 시 레인저를 기반으로 한 이 헬리콥터들은 미국의 초과방위물자(EDA) 프로그램에 따라 1월 7일 SLAF로 이전되었다.

첫 번째 인도 물량은 이르면 2월에 스리랑카에 도착할 예정이다.

이들 10대의 헬리콥터는 기체 자체에 대한 비용 없이 미국으로부터 제공된다. 이는 SLAF의 조종사 훈련 능력을 강화하는 한편, 보다 효과적인 재난 대응을 위해 회전익 항공기 전력을 확충하는 데 기여할 것이다.

실제로 SLAF의 비상 대응 능력은 2025년 11월 사이클론 디트와(Cyclone Ditwah) 대응 과정에서 심각하게 제한되어 있음이 드러났다. 당시 가용 항공기 부족으로 인해 대피 및 수색·구조 임무가 차질을 빚었다.

상업용 벨 제트 레인저 206에서 파생된 TH-57 시 레인저는 주로 미 해군(USN)에서 훈련용으로 사용되었으며, 사진 촬영, 추적 및 범용 임무에도 활용되었다. TH-57은 교관 조종사 1명과 훈련생 3명을 수용할 수 있다.

이 헬리콥터들은 텍사스에서 제작되었으며, TH-57B는 1981년에 취역했고 TH-57C는 1982년에 도입되었다. 시 레인저는 플로리다주 밀턴에 위치한 휘팅 필드 해군항공기지에서 매년 수백 명의 항공 학생들에게 고급 계기비행규칙(IFR) 훈련을 제공했다.

미 해군의 TH-57 기단 퇴역은 2023회계연도에 시작되어 2025회계연도에 종료되었다. 이 기단은 레오나르도의 AW119Kx를 기반으로 한 TH-73A 스래셔로 대체되고 있다. 이 TH-73A들은 향후 30년간 운용될 예정이다.

앞서 EDA 프로그램에 따라 스리랑카 해군은 2004년에 64.16m급 중형 항속 순찰함 USCGC 커리지어스를 인도받았으며, 스리랑카 해군에 취역하면서 SLNS 사무두라로 개명되었다.

이어 2019년에는 길이 115m의 대형 항속 순찰함 USCGC 셔먼이 인도되었고, 이는 SLNS 가자바후로 개명되었다.

Sri Lanka set to receive ten ex-US Bell 206 helicopters - Asian Military Review

Sri Lanka set to receive ten ex-US Bell 206 helicopters

By

 Mike Rajkumar

 -

January 16, 2026

The US is transferring ten second-hand Bell TH-57 helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force. (DSCA)

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is to take delivery of ten ex-US TH-57 helicopters. These helicopters, based on the Bell 206 Sea Ranger, were transferred to the SLAF on 7 January under the US Excess Defense Articles (EDA) programme.

The first batch of helicopters is due to arrive in Sri Lanka as early as February.

These ten helicopters are being provided by the USA at no cost for the helicopters themselves. They will enhance the SLAF’s pilot training capabilities, and also expand its rotorcraft fleet for more effective disaster response.

Indeed, the SLAF’s emergency response capabilities were shown up as being severely limited during the response to Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025. At that time, a shortage of available aircraft hindered evacuations and search and rescue missions.

A derivative of the commercial Bell Jet Ranger 206, the TH-57 Sea Ranger was primarily used by the US Navy (USN) for training, but also for photo, chase and utility missions. The TH-47 can accommodate one instructor pilot and three students.

The helicopters were built in Texas, with the TH-57B entering service in 1981 and the TH-57C introduced in 1982. The Sea Ranger provided advanced instrument flight rules training to several hundred aviation students a year at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida.

The USN’s TH-57 fleet retirement began in FY2023 and concluded in FY2025. They are being replaced in the USN by the TH-73A Thrasher, which is based on Leonardo’s AW119Kx. These TH-73As are slated to remain in service for the next 30 years.

Earlier, under the EDA programme the Sri Lanka Navy received the 64.16m medium-endurance cutter USCGC Courageous in 2004; it was renamed SLNS Samudura after entering Sri Lankan service.

This was followed by the 2019 delivery of the 115m-long high-endurance cutter USCGC Sherman, which was renamed SLNS Gajabahu.