India and Sri Lanka Sign MoUs to Upgrade Six L70 Anti-Aircraft Guns for Sri Lankan Air Force

Key facts

• India and Sri Lanka signed MoUs on September 9, 2026 to upgrade six L70 legacy anti-aircraft guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force; the guns, of 1960s vintage, were earlier provided by India under a grant and upgraded by the Indian Army to act against low-flying objects like unmanned systems.
• Two other MoUs were signed for academic cooperation between the National Defence Colleges of India and Sri Lanka and cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of the two countries.
• During his Colombo visit, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who reiterated that Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to India's security interests.
• Singh highlighted the commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, established through India-Sri Lanka collaboration, and invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision for a closer maritime partnership.