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Rebels claim they have shot down Air Force jets over Brega and Ras Lanuf.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me_AtWpu9nI</ref><ref>http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/947638--the-star-in-libya-rebels-quash-gadhafi-raid</ref><ref name=LibyanAF />
Rebels claim they have shot down Air Force jets over Brega and Ras Lanuf.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me_AtWpu9nI</ref><ref>http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/947638--the-star-in-libya-rebels-quash-gadhafi-raid</ref><ref name=LibyanAF />
Exactly how many and what types of aircraft have been shot down have yet to be confirmed by government or independent sources. An overview of the current activities of the Libyan Air Force during the revolt is given at [http://aircraft.zurf.info/article/libyan-air-force-during-revolt Libyan Air Force during the revolt].<ref name=LibyanAF />
Exactly how many and what types of aircraft have been shot down have yet to be confirmed by government or independent sources. An overview of the current activities of the Libyan Air Force during the revolt is given at [http://aircraft.zurf.info Libyan Air Force during the revolt].<ref name=LibyanAF />


==Current air force equipment==
==Current air force equipment==

Revision as of 21:37, 7 March 2011

Libyan Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Libiyya
Active1970 -present
Country Libya
HQOkba Ben Nafi, Tripoli
EngagementsSix-Day War 1967

Yom Kippur War 1973 Libyan–Egyptian War 1977 Chadian–Libyan conflict 1978-1987 Gulf of Sidra incidents 1981,1989

Libyan Revolt 2011
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
AttackSu-22, J-21, Mi-14, Mi-24, Bell 206,
BomberSu-24
FighterMiG-21, MiG-23, Mirage F1
TrainerSF-260, L-39, G-2, Yak-130
TransportAn-26, Falcon 20, Falcon 50, Gulfstream II, Il-76, L-410, C-130, Il-78 Midas, Bell 212, CH-47, Mi-8

The Libyan Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية الليبية) is the air force of Libya, with an air force personnel estimated at 22,000. There are 13 military airbases in Libya.[1]

After U.S. forces had left Libya in 1970, Wheelus Air Base, a previous U.S. facility about seven miles from Tripoli, became a Libyan Air Force installation and was renamed Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. OBN AB housed the LPAF's headquarters and a large share of its major training facilities.

LPAF Soviet-made MiG-17/19/25 fighters and Tu-22 bombers were based at Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. 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.

History

Cold War

Royal Libyan Air Force roundel.

The air force was first established as the Royal Libyan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya) in 1951. In 1970 it changed its name to the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force.

Most of the aircraft were from the Soviet Union, Italy and France.

During the Cold War, 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-22s, 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.[2] 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 number of MiG-25, possibly more than 60 were delivered, consisting of MiG-25PD, MiG-25RBK, MiG-25PU and MiG-25RU variants.

Combat experience

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. [8]

The Libyan Arab Republic Air Force (LARAF) lost a total of four aircraft to United States Navy F-14 Tomcats 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.

In the 1970s and 80s Libyan Migs and Tupolevs were common visitors to the international airspace, close to Italy and NATO bases. On July 19, 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 most accepted theory is that the aircraft was shot down during a dogfight involving Libyan and NATO fighters in an attempted assassination of an important Libyan politician, who was flying in the same airspace that evening.

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 did not play a decisive role. On 17 February 1986, in retaliation for the French Operation Èpervier, a single LARAF Tu-22B attacked the airport at N'Djamena. 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 LARAF bombers that were attacking N'Djamena.

The Chadians seized Ouadi Doum base in 1987 and destroyed or captured two SF.260s, three Mi-25s, two Tu-22B bombers, eleven L-39 jets, two complete SA-8 SAM-batteries and a plethora of additional equipment, weapons, supplies and ammounition, a good deal of which was flown out to France and the USA within the next five days. Four USAF C-5 Galaxy transports were sent to N'Djamena to collect the captured Libyan equipment.

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 the northern Chad by Chadian troops.

The Libyan Arab Republic Air Force (LARAF) 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 .[21]

Post–Cold War

With the collapse of the Soviet Union 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 Revolt

During the 2011 Libyan Revolt, 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.[3][4] On 21 February 2011, two senior Libyan Air Force pilots defected and flew their Mirage F1[5] fighter jets to Malta and requested political asylum after defying orders to bomb protesters.[6] On 23 February 2011, pilot Abdessalam Attiyah al-Abdali and co-pilot Ali Omar al-Kadhafi, crew of a Sukhoi-22,[5] ejected with parachutes near Ajdabiya, 100 miles west of Benghazi, after refusing orders to bomb the city of Benghazi.[5][7]

Rebels claim they have shot down Air Force jets over Brega and Ras Lanuf.[8][9][5] Exactly how many and what types of aircraft have been shot down have yet to be confirmed by government or independent sources. An overview of the current activities of the Libyan Air Force during the revolt is given at Libyan Air Force during the revolt.[5]

Current air force equipment

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
Dassault Mirage F1  France Multi role fighter Mirage F1BD/ED 1 (2 in Malta) 32 delivered in the seventies, most of them have disappeared. Some are based at Gamal Abdul El Nasser Air Base, south of Tobruk. In 2007, Dassault Aviation was awarded a contract to put 12 remaining airframes back into flying condition. Only four have been refitted.[10]

Two were flown to Malta on 21 February 2011 by pilots who, after being instructed to bomb protesters, chose instead to apply for asylum.[11]

One shot down on 3 March 2011.[12]


Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21  Soviet Union Trainer/interceptor 25 Most are grounded
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23  Soviet Union Ground attack/interceptor/trainer MiG-23BN/MS/ML/UB 124 Most are grounded. some reported captured by rebels in air bases in Benghazi and Tobruk, February 2011.[citation needed]
Sukhoi Su-22  Soviet Union Ground attack Sukhoi Su-22M3/UM-3K 39 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, 100 miles west of Benghazi.[13]
Sukhoi Su-24  Soviet Union Long range bomber Sukhoi Su-24MK 2 One lost in a fire,
One reported to have been shot down outside Ra's Lanuf on 5 March 2011 by anti-Gaddafi rebels.[14]
Soko J-21 Jastreb  Yugoslavia Light ground attack 13
Aero L-39ZO Albatros  Czechoslovakia Light attack/trainer 110
Aermacchi SF-260WL  Italy Basic trainer 20
Soko G-2 Galeb  Yugoslavia Light attack/trainer 116
Yakovlev Yak-130  Russia Jet trainer 6 On order (2010)
Dassault Falcon 20  France Light transport 3
Antonov An-26  Soviet Union Medium transport 10
Gulfstream II  USA Light transport 1
Dassault Falcon 50  France Light transport 1
Ilyushin Il-76  Soviet Union Heavy transport 17
Let L-410 Turbolet  Czechoslovakia Light utility transport 15
Lockheed C-130H Hercules  USA Heavy transport 10
Antonov An-124  Soviet Union Heavy transport 2
Ilyushin Il-78  Soviet Union Air to air refueller 4
Mil Mi-24 Hind  Russia Heavy attack helicopter Mi-24A/Mi-25/Mi-35 37 Three capured by Chadian rebels in the 80s and sent to France and US for evaluation. Some source considers Mi-35; anyway, #853 destroyed by fire on the ground on 23 Feb 2011 or days before[citation needed]. Mi-24 shot down by anti-Gaddafi rebels in Misrata, 28 Feb 2011.[citation needed]. Mi-24[citation needed] shot down anti-Gaddafi rebels in Ra's Lanuf, 6 March 2011[15]
Mil Mi-14  Russia Medium utility helicopter 12
Bell 206 JetRanger  USA Training helicopter 4
Bell 212 Twin Huey  USA Light transport helicopter 2 Delivered from Italy
Boeing CH-47 Chinook  USA Heavy transport helicopter 8 Delivered from Italy
Mil Mi-8 Hip  Russia Medium transport helicopter 25
Mil Mi-17  Russia Medium transport helicopter ? Status unknown
Lavochkin SA-2  Soviet Union Air defence SAM 88 At least 2 have been reported captured by anti-government protesters and defected military units in Tobruk.[citation needed]
Isayev SA-3  Soviet Union Air defence SAM 10
SA-6  Soviet Union Air defence SAM 43

Captured aircraft

Aircraft Origin Type Versions No. Captured Notes
Westland Lynx  Netherlands ASW, SAR and MEDEVAC duties SH-14D 1 Captured, along with its crew of 3, from the Dutch Navy on 27 February 2011, during an attempted civilian rescue mission.[16]

Retired Aircraft

File:Figuur1.jpg
Libyan MiG-25

References

  1. ^ Middle East Military Balance: Libya
  2. ^ Library of Congress Country Study Libya, Chapter 5:National Security, 1987
  3. ^ "Report: Libya air force bombs protesters heading for army base - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News". Haaretz.com. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  4. ^ Yasmine Ryan. "Report: Libyan protesters fired on - Africa". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Libyan Air Force during the revolt". Zurf Military Aircraft. Retrieved 7 March 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Updated: Libyan fighter jets arrive in Malta". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Libya pilot rejects Benghazi bombing, ditches plane". Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  8. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me_AtWpu9nI
  9. ^ http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/947638--the-star-in-libya-rebels-quash-gadhafi-raid
  10. ^ "La Libye n'a plus que deux Mirage F1 en état de vol". Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Libyan fighter jets arrive in Malta". Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  12. ^ "The Star in Libya: Rebels quash Gadhafi raid". Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Libya pilot 'rejects Benghazi raid, ditches plane'". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  14. ^ "Gaddafi and rebel forces in heavy clashes in town of Zawiya". Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  15. ^ "Libya rebels say shoot down helicopter in east". Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  16. ^ BBC News item (retrieved 3 March 2011)
  17. ^ Libyan Mirages in Use for Pakistan AF Spares, Air Forces Monthly, June 2008 issue, p. 32

World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 03

Further reading

  • Libyan Air Force article, Air Forces Monthly, September 2010

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libyan_Air_Force&oldid=417669894"