Libyan Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Libyan Air Force is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare
. In 2010, before the 2011 Libyan civil war
, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat capable aircraft operating from 13 military airbases in Libya.
The air force was first established as the Royal Libyan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya) in 1951. It was originally equipped with a small number of transports and trainers: Douglas C-47s and Lockheed T-33s. However, F-5 Freedom Fighter
s were delivered from 1967. In 1970 it changed its name to the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force. After U.S. forces had left Libya in 1970, Wheelus Air Base
, a previous U.S. facility about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Tripoli
, became a Libyan Air Force installation and was renamed Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. The base housed the LPAF's headquarters and a large share of its major training facilities. From 1970 a very large expansion of the air force took place, with large number of Soviet and some French combat aircraft being bought.
; an US Survey Team on Expansion came to Libya in August 1968 to supervise the introduction of the fighters. Serviciability of the F-5s declined after the 1969 coup and it appears that most may have eventually been sold to Turkey
.
LPAF Soviet-made MiG-17
/19
/25
fighters and Tu-22
bombers were based at Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. After the 1969 seizure of power by Colonel Gaddafi, aircraft and personnel of the Soviet Air Force
took residence at Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. With Soviet assistance, the Libyan Air Force was organized into one medium bomber squadron with Tupolev Tu-22
s, three fighter interceptor squadrons, five forward ground attack squadrons, one counter-insurgency squadron, nine helicopter squadrons, and three air defense brigades deploying SA-2, SA-3, and Crotale missiles. Of the combat aircraft, the United States Department of State estimated in 1983 that 50 percent remained in storage, including most of the MiG fighters and Tu-22 bombers. In 1971, 11 civilian C-130's were delivered by the USA and converted in Italy to military versions. Four C-100-30's were purchased from the Philippines
and Luxembourg
in 1981. In 1976, 20 CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopters were acquired from Italy, 14 of which were transferred to the army in the 1990s.
The Libyan Air Force operated a large number of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
s, some sources say more than 60 were delivered. Types were of the MiG-25PD, MiG-25RBK, MiG-25PU and MiG-25RU variants. They were operated by No. 1025 Squadron at Jufra-Hun
, No. 1055 Squadron at Ghardabiya
and an unidentified squadron at Sabha Air Base
. As of February 2007 Air Forces Monthly
reported all aircraft of the type had been retired. In addition, Dassault Mirage 5
aircraft bought after Gaddafi took power were also retired by 2008, becoming used for Pakistan Air Force
spares.
During the Libyan-Egyptian War
in 1977 there were some skirmishes between Libyan and Egyptian fighters. Two LARAF MiG-23MS engaged two upgraded EAF MiG-21MF and one MiG-23MS was shot down by EAF Maj. Sal Mohammad.
The air force was also involved in combat against Tanzania during 1979 as part of the Uganda–Tanzania War to help its Ugandan allies, with a single Tu-22 flying an unsuccessful bombing mission against the town of Mwanza
.
In the 1970s and 80s Libyan Migs and Tupolevs were common visitors to the international airspace, close to Italy and NATO bases. On 19 July 1980, a Libyan MiG-23 crashed on the Sila Mountains in Castelsilano, Calabria, southern Italy. On 27 June 1980 an Italian plane exploded
while on route from Bologna to Palermo, off the island of Ustica.
The air force lost a total of four aircraft to United States Navy
F-14 Tomcat
s in two incidents over the Gulf of Sidra
, in 1981
and 1989
. In addition, many planes were destroyed or damaged on the ground in 1986 when American planes attacked targets at Benghazi and Tripoli airports.
The air force was extensively used in the fighting in Chad in the 1980s, in support of Libyan ground units. It was reported that many Libyan bombing raids were carried out at excessively high altitudes when met with anti-aircraft fire so the attacks were not very effective. On 17 February 1986, in retaliation for the French Operation Epervier, a single LARAF Tu-22B attacked the airport at N'Djamena. The French air force bombed the Libyan air base at Ouadi Doum as retaliation. One Tu-22 bomber was shot down by captured SA-6 missile during an attack on an abandoned Libyan base on 8 August 1987. Another Tu-22 was lost on 7 September 1987, when a battery of French MIM-23 Hawk SAMs shot down one of the two Libyan bombers that were attacking N'Djamena.
The Chadians seized the Ouadi Doum base in 1987 and destroyed or captured two SF.260s, three Mil Mi-25s, two Tu-22B bombers, eleven L-39 jets, two complete 9K33 Osa
(SA-8) SAM batteries, and a plethora of additional equipment, weapons, supplies and ammunition, a good deal of which was flown out to France and the USA within the next five days. Four USAF C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft were sent to N'Djamena to collect the captured Libyan equipment. On 5 September 1987 Chadian technicals crossed into Libya and attacked the Maaten al-Sarra Air Base
which is 96.5 kilometres (60 mi) in Libyan territory. The battle of Maaten al-Sarra
was a major victory for Chad and several Libyan aircraft were destroyed on the ground with only minor Chadian casualties.
On 8 October 1987, an Su-22M-22K was shot down by a FIM-92A Stinger missile in northern Chad. The pilot, Capt. Diya al-Din, ejected and was captured. The LARAF immediately organized a recovery operation, and a MiG-23 Flogger was also shot down by another Stinger. In December 1988 a Libyan SF.260 was shot down over northern Chad by Chadian troops.
On the other side, the considerable Libyan cargo plane fleet, was apparently employed capably in Chad and elsewhere.
and the elimination of military aid by the new Russian Federation, Soviet/Russian support was drastically curtailed. The last major delivery of Soviet aircraft was 15 Su-24 Fencers in March/April 1989.
Much of Libyan air doctrine appears now to be of an ad hoc nature and contracted personnel from Yugoslavia, South Africa, Russia, North Korea and Pakistan provide piloting, maintenance and technical services.
The 1990s drop in oil prices and UN embargo made purchase of modern equipment almost impossible. UN sanctions were lifted in early 1999 and Libya started prospective negotiations with Russia about upgrades for its MiG-21s and MiG-25s while also expressing an interest in MiG-29s, MiG-31s and long-range SAMs. However, many of the transport and combat aircraft are in storage.
In January 2008 Libya bought 4 ATR-42MP maritime patrol aircraft from Italy’s Alenia.
The LARAF MiG-21s do not fly at all due to reported serviceability issues and of 170 MiG-23s delivered, only 30-50 are believed to be flyable aircraft. Those ratios may be similar for several other platforms.
, Libyan Air Force warplanes and attack helicopters launched repeated airstrikes on protesters, reportedly targeting a funeral procession and a group of protesters trying to reach an army base. On 21 February 2011, two senior Libyan Air Force pilots defected and flew their Mirage F1 fighter jets to Malta
and requested political asylum after defying orders to bomb protesters.
On 23 February 2011, pilot Abdessalam Attiyah al-Abdali and co-pilot Ali Omar al-Kadhafi, crew of a Sukhoi-22, ejected with parachutes near Ajdabiya, 161 kilometres (100 mi) west of Benghazi, after refusing orders to bomb the city of Benghazi. Anti-Gaddafi forces and Syrian opposition groups claim that Syrian pilots were flying attacks for the Libyan government. Rebels claim they have shot down Air Force jets over Brega and Ra's Lanuf.
At Brega a Mirage F-1 was shot down and at Ra's Lanuf a Sukhoi Su-24
bomber and a helicopter (probably a Mi-24). Exactly how many and what types of aircraft have been shot down have yet to be confirmed by government or independent sources. Using air power, the Libyan army checked the opposition advance westwards, towards Bin Jawad
in early March. On 13 March 2011, Ali Atiyya, a colonel of the Libyan Air Force at the Mitiga military airport, near Tripoli
, announced that he had defected and joined the revolution. Rebels claim to have shot down what appears to be a MiG-21 outside of Bohadi. On 17 March, Su-22M-3K, shot down over Benina AB, pilot ejected safely and captured. On 17 March, a "Free Libya Air Force" MiG-21UM crashed after take off from Benina airport due to technical problems. It was flown from Ghardabiya
Air Base near Sirte to Benina by a defecting pilot the day before.
On 19 March 2011, a rebel
MiG-23BN was shot down over Benghazi by rebel air defence forces in a case of mistaken identity. The pilot ejected, but at a very low altitude, and was reported to have been killed as a result. BBC News
reported on 20 March that the rebel aircraft was shot down by its own air defenses
Two days later, the UN Security Council adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973
which legitimised the operation. US and British warships launched more than 120 Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libyan air defences and four US B-2 stealth bombers attacked several airfields.
On 23 March 2011, British Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell was quoted by the BBC saying that the Libyan air force "no longer exists as a fighting force" and that Libyan air defenses had been damaged to the extent that NATO forces could now operate over Libyan airspace "with impunity." On 24 March 2011 several media sources reported that a French Dassault Rafale
destroyed a G-2 Galeb near Misrata. Initial reports of the French action said the Libyan plane, a G-2/Galeb with a single engine, was in the air when it was hit. French military spokesman Col Thierry Burkhard later said the plane had just landed when the attack took place.
On 26 March 2011, French Air Force reported that five Soko G-2 Galeb aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Misrata airport together with two Mi-35
helicopters, but satellite images showed that the five fixed wing aircraft were MiG-23s.
F-16 Belgian Air Force hit a Libyan Su-22M-3K plane during operation on 27 March.
On 7 May 2011, after weeks of complete inactivity, Libyan Air Force conducted a successful air raid over the rebel held fuel depots at Misrata setting them on fire. The rebels reported that the raid was conducted with crop dusting aircraft, but probably SF.260 light attack aircraft were used taking off from Misrata airport. NATO failed to intercept the bombing mission.
Aerial warfare
Aerial warfare is the use of military aircraft and other flying machines in warfare, including military airlift of cargo to further the national interests as was demonstrated in the Berlin Airlift...
. In 2010, before the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat capable aircraft operating from 13 military airbases in Libya.
The air force was first established as the Royal Libyan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya) in 1951. It was originally equipped with a small number of transports and trainers: Douglas C-47s and Lockheed T-33s. However, F-5 Freedom Fighter
F-5 Freedom Fighter
The Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and the F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely-used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop...
s were delivered from 1967. In 1970 it changed its name to the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force. After U.S. forces had left Libya in 1970, Wheelus Air Base
Wheelus Air Base
-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
, a previous U.S. facility about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, became a Libyan Air Force installation and was renamed Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. The base housed the LPAF's headquarters and a large share of its major training facilities. From 1970 a very large expansion of the air force took place, with large number of Soviet and some French combat aircraft being bought.
Cold War
During May 1967 the Kingdom of Libya reached an agreement with the USA to supply 10 Northrop F-5s to the Royal Libyan Air Force. These were the first fighters for the young Air Force which only operated at the time six Douglas C-47 transports and three Lockheed T-33A trainers. Fifty-six personnel underwent training at basis in USA, pilots at Williams Air Force BaseWilliams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
; an US Survey Team on Expansion came to Libya in August 1968 to supervise the introduction of the fighters. Serviciability of the F-5s declined after the 1969 coup and it appears that most may have eventually been sold to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
LPAF Soviet-made MiG-17
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the USSR from 1952 and operated by numerous air forces in many variants. Most MiG-17 variants cannot carry air-to-air missiles, but shot down many aircraft with its cannons...
/19
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 is a Soviet second-generation, single-seat, twin jet-engined fighter aircraft. It was the first Soviet production aircraft capable of supersonic speeds in level flight. A comparable U.S...
/25
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau the first prototype flew in 1964 with entry into service in 1970...
fighters and Tu-22
Tupolev Tu-22
The Tupolev Tu-22 was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union. Manufactured by Tupolev, the Tu-22 entered service with the Soviet military in the 1960s, and the last examples were retired during the 1990s...
bombers were based at Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. After the 1969 seizure of power by Colonel Gaddafi, aircraft and personnel of the Soviet Air Force
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
took residence at Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. With Soviet assistance, the Libyan Air Force was organized into one medium bomber squadron with Tupolev Tu-22
Tupolev Tu-22
The Tupolev Tu-22 was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union. Manufactured by Tupolev, the Tu-22 entered service with the Soviet military in the 1960s, and the last examples were retired during the 1990s...
s, three fighter interceptor squadrons, five forward ground attack squadrons, one counter-insurgency squadron, nine helicopter squadrons, and three air defense brigades deploying SA-2, SA-3, and Crotale missiles. Of the combat aircraft, the United States Department of State estimated in 1983 that 50 percent remained in storage, including most of the MiG fighters and Tu-22 bombers. In 1971, 11 civilian C-130's were delivered by the USA and converted in Italy to military versions. Four C-100-30's were purchased from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
in 1981. In 1976, 20 CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopters were acquired from Italy, 14 of which were transferred to the army in the 1990s.
The Libyan Air Force operated a large number of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau the first prototype flew in 1964 with entry into service in 1970...
s, some sources say more than 60 were delivered. Types were of the MiG-25PD, MiG-25RBK, MiG-25PU and MiG-25RU variants. They were operated by No. 1025 Squadron at Jufra-Hun
Al Jufra Air Base
Al Jufra Air Base is a Libyan Air Force base located near Jufra.-Combat aircraft types:Prior to the 2011 Libyan civil war TU-22, MiG-25, G.222 and An-26 were based at Jufra, parked on open pavement, sand berm shielded pads and in aircraft shelters...
, No. 1055 Squadron at Ghardabiya
Ghardabiya
Ghardabiya is a dual-function airbase for the Libyan Air Force south of the city of Sirte. It also incorporates an airport for civilian use.-Military Use:...
and an unidentified squadron at Sabha Air Base
Sabha Air Base
-Overview:Sabha Air Base is a Libyan Air Force base southeast of Sabha, Libya. The base is home to the 1st and 1025th Squadrons of MiG-25 fighter aircraft.It also supports the Tu-22 bomber, but it is unclear if any of these aircraft are operational....
. As of February 2007 Air Forces Monthly
Air Forces Monthly
Air Forces Monthly is a military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing, based in Stamford, United Kingdom.Sister publications include Air International, Air Enthusiast, Airliner World, Airports International, FlyPast and Today's Pilot.-External links:*http://www.airforcesmonthly.co.uk/* via...
reported all aircraft of the type had been retired. In addition, Dassault Mirage 5
Dassault Mirage 5
The Dassault Mirage 5 is a supersonic attack aircraft designed in France by Dassault Aviation during the 1960s, and manufactured in France and a number of other countries. It was derived from Dassault's popular Mirage III fighter, and spawned several variants of its own.-Early development:The...
aircraft bought after Gaddafi took power were also retired by 2008, becoming used for Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
spares.
During the Libyan-Egyptian War
Libyan-Egyptian War
The Egyptian–Libyan War was a short border war between Libya and Egypt in July, 1977.On July 21, 1977, there were first gun battles between troops on the border, followed by land and air strikes...
in 1977 there were some skirmishes between Libyan and Egyptian fighters. Two LARAF MiG-23MS engaged two upgraded EAF MiG-21MF and one MiG-23MS was shot down by EAF Maj. Sal Mohammad.
The air force was also involved in combat against Tanzania during 1979 as part of the Uganda–Tanzania War to help its Ugandan allies, with a single Tu-22 flying an unsuccessful bombing mission against the town of Mwanza
Mwanza
Mwanza is a mid-sized port city on the southern shores of Lake Victoria in northwestern Tanzania. With an urban population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan population of 2 million, it is Tanzania's second largest city, following Dar es Salaam and ahead of other major Tanzanian cities of Arusha,...
.
In the 1970s and 80s Libyan Migs and Tupolevs were common visitors to the international airspace, close to Italy and NATO bases. On 19 July 1980, a Libyan MiG-23 crashed on the Sila Mountains in Castelsilano, Calabria, southern Italy. On 27 June 1980 an Italian plane exploded
Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870
Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870, also known in the Italian media as the Ustica Massacre , was an Italian flight which crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea while en route from Bologna, Italy, to Palermo, Italy, in 1980. The crash has been attributed to either a terrorist bomb or to an air-to-air missile...
while on route from Bologna to Palermo, off the island of Ustica.
The air force lost a total of four aircraft to United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
s in two incidents over the Gulf of Sidra
Gulf of Sidra
Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte or the Great Sirte or Greater Syrtis .- Geography :The Gulf of Sidra has been a major centre for tuna fishing in the Mediterranean for centuries...
, in 1981
Gulf of Sidra incident (1981)
In the first Gulf of Sidra incident, 19 August 1981, two Libyan Su-22 Fitter attack aircraft were shot down by two American F-14 Tomcats off of the Libyan coast.-Background:...
and 1989
Gulf of Sidra incident (1989)
The second Gulf of Sidra incident occurred on 4 January 1989 when two US F-14 Tomcats shot down two Libyan MiG-23 Flogger-Es that gave all appearances of attempting to engage them, as had happened seven years prior in the first Gulf of Sidra incident ....
. In addition, many planes were destroyed or damaged on the ground in 1986 when American planes attacked targets at Benghazi and Tripoli airports.
The air force was extensively used in the fighting in Chad in the 1980s, in support of Libyan ground units. It was reported that many Libyan bombing raids were carried out at excessively high altitudes when met with anti-aircraft fire so the attacks were not very effective. On 17 February 1986, in retaliation for the French Operation Epervier, a single LARAF Tu-22B attacked the airport at N'Djamena. The French air force bombed the Libyan air base at Ouadi Doum as retaliation. One Tu-22 bomber was shot down by captured SA-6 missile during an attack on an abandoned Libyan base on 8 August 1987. Another Tu-22 was lost on 7 September 1987, when a battery of French MIM-23 Hawk SAMs shot down one of the two Libyan bombers that were attacking N'Djamena.
The Chadians seized the Ouadi Doum base in 1987 and destroyed or captured two SF.260s, three Mil Mi-25s, two Tu-22B bombers, eleven L-39 jets, two complete 9K33 Osa
9K33 Osa
The 9K33 OSA is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko.-Description:...
(SA-8) SAM batteries, and a plethora of additional equipment, weapons, supplies and ammunition, a good deal of which was flown out to France and the USA within the next five days. Four USAF C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft were sent to N'Djamena to collect the captured Libyan equipment. On 5 September 1987 Chadian technicals crossed into Libya and attacked the Maaten al-Sarra Air Base
Maaten al-Sarra Air Base
The Maaten al-Sarra Libyan Air Force Base is an airbase in southernmost Libya located near the Ma'tan as-Sarra oasis in the Kufra district. It is one of the 13 military airbases in Libya....
which is 96.5 kilometres (60 mi) in Libyan territory. The battle of Maaten al-Sarra
Battle of Maaten al-Sarra
The battle of Maaten al-Sarra was a battle fought between Chad and Libya on September 5, 1987 during the Toyota War. The battle took the form of a surprise Chadian raid against the Libyan Maaten al-Sarra Air Base, meant to remove the threat of Libyan airpower, that had already thwarted the Chadian...
was a major victory for Chad and several Libyan aircraft were destroyed on the ground with only minor Chadian casualties.
On 8 October 1987, an Su-22M-22K was shot down by a FIM-92A Stinger missile in northern Chad. The pilot, Capt. Diya al-Din, ejected and was captured. The LARAF immediately organized a recovery operation, and a MiG-23 Flogger was also shot down by another Stinger. In December 1988 a Libyan SF.260 was shot down over northern Chad by Chadian troops.
On the other side, the considerable Libyan cargo plane fleet, was apparently employed capably in Chad and elsewhere.
Post–Cold War
With the collapse of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the elimination of military aid by the new Russian Federation, Soviet/Russian support was drastically curtailed. The last major delivery of Soviet aircraft was 15 Su-24 Fencers in March/April 1989.
Much of Libyan air doctrine appears now to be of an ad hoc nature and contracted personnel from Yugoslavia, South Africa, Russia, North Korea and Pakistan provide piloting, maintenance and technical services.
The 1990s drop in oil prices and UN embargo made purchase of modern equipment almost impossible. UN sanctions were lifted in early 1999 and Libya started prospective negotiations with Russia about upgrades for its MiG-21s and MiG-25s while also expressing an interest in MiG-29s, MiG-31s and long-range SAMs. However, many of the transport and combat aircraft are in storage.
In January 2008 Libya bought 4 ATR-42MP maritime patrol aircraft from Italy’s Alenia.
The LARAF MiG-21s do not fly at all due to reported serviceability issues and of 170 MiG-23s delivered, only 30-50 are believed to be flyable aircraft. Those ratios may be similar for several other platforms.
2011 Libyan Civil War / NATO intervention
During the 2011 Libyan civil war2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
, Libyan Air Force warplanes and attack helicopters launched repeated airstrikes on protesters, reportedly targeting a funeral procession and a group of protesters trying to reach an army base. On 21 February 2011, two senior Libyan Air Force pilots defected and flew their Mirage F1 fighter jets to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and requested political asylum after defying orders to bomb protesters.
On 23 February 2011, pilot Abdessalam Attiyah al-Abdali and co-pilot Ali Omar al-Kadhafi, crew of a Sukhoi-22, ejected with parachutes near Ajdabiya, 161 kilometres (100 mi) west of Benghazi, after refusing orders to bomb the city of Benghazi. Anti-Gaddafi forces and Syrian opposition groups claim that Syrian pilots were flying attacks for the Libyan government. Rebels claim they have shot down Air Force jets over Brega and Ra's Lanuf.
At Brega a Mirage F-1 was shot down and at Ra's Lanuf a Sukhoi Su-24
Sukhoi Su-24
The Sukhoi Su-24 is a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. This variable-sweep wing, twin-engined two-seater carried the USSR's first integrated digital navigation/attack system...
bomber and a helicopter (probably a Mi-24). Exactly how many and what types of aircraft have been shot down have yet to be confirmed by government or independent sources. Using air power, the Libyan army checked the opposition advance westwards, towards Bin Jawad
Bin Jawad
Bin Jawad , also known as Bin Jawwād, Bin Quwad is a town with estimated 8,488 inhabitants in the Sirte District in Libya. It is approximately half way between Benghazi and Misrata...
in early March. On 13 March 2011, Ali Atiyya, a colonel of the Libyan Air Force at the Mitiga military airport, near Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, announced that he had defected and joined the revolution. Rebels claim to have shot down what appears to be a MiG-21 outside of Bohadi. On 17 March, Su-22M-3K, shot down over Benina AB, pilot ejected safely and captured. On 17 March, a "Free Libya Air Force" MiG-21UM crashed after take off from Benina airport due to technical problems. It was flown from Ghardabiya
Ghardabiya
Ghardabiya is a dual-function airbase for the Libyan Air Force south of the city of Sirte. It also incorporates an airport for civilian use.-Military Use:...
Air Base near Sirte to Benina by a defecting pilot the day before.
On 19 March 2011, a rebel
Free Libyan Air Force
The Free Libyan Air Force is the air force of the National Transitional Council, a collection of defected Loyalist Military personnel and captured aircraft that have aligned themselves with the Anti-Gaddafi forces of the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Operations:...
MiG-23BN was shot down over Benghazi by rebel air defence forces in a case of mistaken identity. The pilot ejected, but at a very low altitude, and was reported to have been killed as a result. BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
reported on 20 March that the rebel aircraft was shot down by its own air defenses
Two days later, the UN Security Council adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, on the situation in Libya, is a measure that was adopted on 17 March 2011. The Security Council resolution was proposed by France, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom....
which legitimised the operation. US and British warships launched more than 120 Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libyan air defences and four US B-2 stealth bombers attacked several airfields.
On 23 March 2011, British Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell was quoted by the BBC saying that the Libyan air force "no longer exists as a fighting force" and that Libyan air defenses had been damaged to the extent that NATO forces could now operate over Libyan airspace "with impunity." On 24 March 2011 several media sources reported that a French Dassault Rafale
Dassault Rafale
The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy...
destroyed a G-2 Galeb near Misrata. Initial reports of the French action said the Libyan plane, a G-2/Galeb with a single engine, was in the air when it was hit. French military spokesman Col Thierry Burkhard later said the plane had just landed when the attack took place.
On 26 March 2011, French Air Force reported that five Soko G-2 Galeb aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Misrata airport together with two Mi-35
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
helicopters, but satellite images showed that the five fixed wing aircraft were MiG-23s.
F-16 Belgian Air Force hit a Libyan Su-22M-3K plane during operation on 27 March.
On 7 May 2011, after weeks of complete inactivity, Libyan Air Force conducted a successful air raid over the rebel held fuel depots at Misrata setting them on fire. The rebels reported that the raid was conducted with crop dusting aircraft, but probably SF.260 light attack aircraft were used taking off from Misrata airport. NATO failed to intercept the bombing mission.
Military airports / Civil War
Military airforce bases include :- Mitiga, (near Tripoli): formerly USAF Wheelus Air BaseWheelus Air Base-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
, later Okba Ben Nafi when used by Soviet Union forces. Damaged by Coalition air and missile strikes on 20 and 21 March, under anti-Gaddafi forces control - Maaten al-Sarra Air BaseMaaten al-Sarra Air BaseThe Maaten al-Sarra Libyan Air Force Base is an airbase in southernmost Libya located near the Ma'tan as-Sarra oasis in the Kufra district. It is one of the 13 military airbases in Libya....
south of Libya, under anti-Gaddafi forces control - Benina (near BenghaziBenghaziBenghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
) under anti-Gaddafi forces control - Misrata Airport, damaged by coalition air strikes on 25 and 26 March and under anti-Gaddafi forces control
- GhardabiyaGhardabiyaGhardabiya is a dual-function airbase for the Libyan Air Force south of the city of Sirte. It also incorporates an airport for civilian use.-Military Use:...
Air Base Map near SirteSirteSirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast...
, damaged by Coalition air and missile strikes on 20 and 21 March, under anti-Gaddafi forces control - GhadamesGhadamesGhadames or Ghadamis is an oasis town in the Nalut District of the Fezzan region in southwestern Libya.-Geography:Ghadames lies roughly to the southwest of Tripoli, near the borders with Algeria and Tunisia. Ghadames borders Illizi Province, Algeria and Tataouine Governorate, Tunisia.The oasis...
, under anti-Gaddafi forces control - Sabha Air BaseSabha Air Base-Overview:Sabha Air Base is a Libyan Air Force base southeast of Sabha, Libya. The base is home to the 1st and 1025th Squadrons of MiG-25 fighter aircraft.It also supports the Tu-22 bomber, but it is unclear if any of these aircraft are operational....
, damaged by coalition air strikes on 21 March, under anti-Gaddafi forces control - Bayda, under anti-Gaddafi forces control
- TobrukTobrukTobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
, under anti-Gaddafi forces control - El Ademe, under anti-Gaddafi forces control
- Ghat, under anti-Gaddafi forces control
- Al Jufra Air BaseAl Jufra Air BaseAl Jufra Air Base is a Libyan Air Force base located near Jufra.-Combat aircraft types:Prior to the 2011 Libyan civil war TU-22, MiG-25, G.222 and An-26 were based at Jufra, parked on open pavement, sand berm shielded pads and in aircraft shelters...
attacked by French Air Force on 24 March, under anti-Gaddafi forces control
Current air force equipment
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dassault Mirage F1 Dassault Mirage F1 The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation as a successor of the Mirage III family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the French Air Force in the early seventies... |
Multi role fighter | Mirage F1BD/ED | 1 (2 in Malta) | 32 delivered in the 1970s, most of them have disappeared. Some are based at Gamal Abdul El Nasser Air Base Gamal Abdul El Nasser Air Base Gamal Abdul El Nasser Air Base is a Libyan Air Force base, located about 16 km south of Tobruk. It is believed to have once had about 60 or 70 Mirage F.1EDs aircraft assigned.... , south of Tobruk. In 2007, Dassault Aviation Dassault Aviation Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets, a subsidiary of Dassault Group.It was founded in 1930 by Marcel Bloch as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch or "MB". After World War II, Marcel Bloch changed his name to Marcel Dassault, and the name of the... was awarded a contract to put 12 remaining airframes back into flying condition. Only four have been refitted. Two were flown to Malta on 21 February 2011 by pilots who, by their account, chose to apply for asylum after being instructed to bomb protesters. One shot down by anti-Gaddafi forces on 3 March 2011. |
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| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to... |
Trainer/interceptor | MiG-21UM/bis/MF | 23 | Most are grounded. On 15 March 2011, one MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM landed at Benina airport Benina International Airport Benina International Airport serves Benghazi, Libya. It is located in the town of Benina, 19 km east of Benghazi, from which it takes its name. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the second largest in the country after Tripoli International... flown by defector Libyan air force pilot who joined the rebellion. On 17 March 2011, a "Free Libyan Air Force Free Libyan Air Force The Free Libyan Air Force is the air force of the National Transitional Council, a collection of defected Loyalist Military personnel and captured aircraft that have aligned themselves with the Anti-Gaddafi forces of the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Operations:... " MiG-21UM crashed after take off from Benina airport due to technical problems. It was flown from Ghardabiya Ghardabiya Ghardabiya is a dual-function airbase for the Libyan Air Force south of the city of Sirte. It also incorporates an airport for civilian use.-Military Use:... Air Base near Sirte to Benina by a defecting pilot the day before. |
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| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"... |
Ground attack/interceptor/trainer | MiG-23BN/MS/ML/UB | 109 | Most are grounded. 2011 civil war in February and March: at least four captured by rebels in air base in Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... February and March 2011. Four captured by rebels in hangar at Misrata. One captured by rebels at Brak. On 15 March 2011, a rebel website reported that opposition forces started using a captured MiG-23 and a helicopter to sink two loyalist ships and bombing some tank positions. On 19 March 2011, a rebel Free Libyan Air Force Free Libyan Air Force The Free Libyan Air Force is the air force of the National Transitional Council, a collection of defected Loyalist Military personnel and captured aircraft that have aligned themselves with the Anti-Gaddafi forces of the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Operations:... MiG-23BN was shot down over Benghazi. On 26 March 2011, five MiG-23s together with two Mi-35 helicopters were destroyed by the French Air Force French Air Force The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933... while parked at Misrata airport, early reports misidentified the five fixed wing aircraft as G-2 Galebs. |
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| Sukhoi Su-22 | Ground attack | Sukhoi Su-22M3/UM-3K | 36 | One lost on 23 February 2011 as the crew of two refused to follow an order to attack protesters and ejected out of their plane, which crashed near Ajdabiya Ajdabiya Ajdabiya was one of the districts of Libya. It lay in the northeastern part of the country. Its capital was Ajdabiya. As of 2007 it was subsumed within the enlarged Al Wahat District.... , 161 kilometres (100 mi) west of Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... . A number of other Su-22 are claimed as shot down by the rebels One shot down over Benghazi on 17 March. |
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| Sukhoi Su-24 Sukhoi Su-24 The Sukhoi Su-24 is a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. This variable-sweep wing, twin-engined two-seater carried the USSR's first integrated digital navigation/attack system... |
Bomber/Ground attack | Sukhoi Su-24MK | 2 | One lost in a fire, One reported to have been shot down outside Ra's Lanuf Ra's Lanuf Ra's Lanuf is a Mediterranean town in northern Libya, on the Gulf of Sidra. The town is also home to the Ra's Lanuf Refinery, completed in 1984, with a crude oil refining capacity of . The oil refinery is operated by the Ra's Lanuf Oil & Gas Processing Company, a subsidiary of the state-owned... on 5 March 2011 by anti-Gaddafi rebels. |
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| Soko J-21 Jastreb Soko J-21 Jastreb |-See also:... |
Light ground attack | J-21E | 13 | ||
| Aero L-39 Albatros | Light attack/trainer | Aero L-39ZO | 110 | ||
| Aermacchi SF.260 | Basic trainer | SF.260WL/ML | 19 | One SF.260ML crushed under a tank at Misrata airport on 23 February 2011. | |
| Soko G-2 Galeb | Light attack/trainer | G-2A-E | 104 | One destroyed by a French Rafale Dassault Rafale The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy... fighter at Misrata airport on 24 March 2011. Four captured by rebels in hangar at Misrata airport. On 26 March 2011, five Galebs together with two Mi-35 helicopters were reported destroyed by the French Air Force French Air Force The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933... in the same area, but satellite images showed that the five fixed wing aircraft were MiG-23s. |
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| Yakovlev Yak-130 Yakovlev Yak-130 The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft or lead-in fighter trainer developed by the Yakovlev design bureau. Development of the plane began in 1991, and the maiden flight was conducted on 26 April 1996... |
Jet trainer | 6 | On order (2010); Status up in balance after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces ban on arms sales to Libya. | ||
| Dassault Falcon 20 Dassault Falcon 20 The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet and was the first of a family of business jets built by Dassault Aviation.-Design and development:... |
Light transport | 3 | |||
| Antonov An-26 Antonov An-26 The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:... |
Medium transport | 10 | 17 February 2011. One An-26 captured by protesters in Kufra | ||
| Antonov An-32 Antonov An-32 The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then... |
Medium transport | 10 | 10+ | ||
| Antonov An-72 Antonov An-72 The Antonov An-72 is a transport aircraft developed by Antonov in the former Soviet Union. It was designed as a STOL transport and intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-26, but variants have found success as commercial freighters.The An-72 gets its nickname, Cheburashka, from the large... |
Medium transport | 5 | Google imagery (2011) shows two aircraft parked at Mitiga airport. | ||
| Gulfstream II | Light transport | 1 | |||
| Dassault Falcon 50 Dassault Falcon 50 |-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK:Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.-External links:* *... |
Light transport | 1 | |||
| Ilyushin Il-76 Ilyushin Il-76 The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas... |
Heavy transport | 17 | |||
| Let L-410T Turbolet | Light utility transport | 15 | |||
| Lockheed C-130H Hercules C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport... |
Heavy transport | 10 | |||
| Ilyushin Il-78 Ilyushin Il-78 The Ilyushin Il-78 is a four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76.-Design and development:... |
Air to air refueler | 4 | |||
| Mil Mi-24 Hind Mil Mi-24 The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export... |
Heavy attack helicopter | Mi-24A/Mi-25/Mi-35 | 35 | Three captured by Chadian rebels in the 1980s and sent to France and US for evaluation. Mi-24 shot down anti-Gaddafi rebels in Ra's Lanuf, 6 March 2011 On 26 March 2011, French Air Force reported that two Mi-35 helicopters were destroyed on the ground at Misrata airport together with five MiG-23s, originally misidentified as Galebs. |
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| Mil Mi-14 Mil Mi-14 |-See also:-External links:******... |
Medium utility helicopter | 12 | 2011 civil war in February and March: One captured by rebels at Benghazi | ||
| Bell 206 JetRanger Bell 206 The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected... |
Training helicopter | 4 | |||
| Bell 212 Twin Huey | Light transport helicopter | 2 | Delivered from Italy | ||
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook CH-47 Chinook The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s... |
Heavy transport helicopter | CH-47C | 8 | Delivered from Italy. According to pro-Gaddafi forces, they shot down two in Ajdabiya, 10 April 2011 | |
| Mil Mi-8 Hip Mil Mi-8 The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter.... |
Medium transport helicopter | 25 | |||
| Mil Mi-17 Mil Mi-17 The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude... |
Medium transport helicopter | ? | Status up in balance after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces ban on arms sales to Libya. | ||
| Lavochkin SA-2 S-75 Dvina The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system... |
Air defence SAM | 88 | At least two have been reported captured by anti-government protesters and defected military units in Tobruk. | ||
| Isayev SA-3 S-125 The Isayev S-125 Neva/Pechora Soviet surface-to-air missile system was designed to complement the S-25 and S-75. It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more... |
Air defence SAM | 10 | |||
| SA-5 | Air defence SAM | ? | |||
| SA-6 | Air defence SAM | 43 | |||
Retired Aircraft
- Boeing 707Boeing 707The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
- Tupolev Tu-22Tupolev Tu-22The Tupolev Tu-22 was the first supersonic bomber to enter production in the Soviet Union. Manufactured by Tupolev, the Tu-22 entered service with the Soviet military in the 1960s, and the last examples were retired during the 1990s...
- Grounded due to lack of spare parts. - Aeritalia G222
- Aerospatiale Super FrelonAérospatiale Super FrelonThe Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Aérospatiale of France. The helicopter is still in use in China where the locally produced version is known as the Z-8. "Frelon" is French for hornet....
- Mil Mi-2Mil Mi-2The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...