"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 26-28 March 2016

The air force of Tobruk governement (Libyan National Army Air force) continued its airstrikes against terrorist groups in Benghazi during all the weekend. On Saturday 26th, MiG-21MF serial number "18" carried out one mission from Tobruk AB in the outskirts of Benghazi using French made 400kg Type 21C SAMP aerial unguided bombs. On Sunday, the same aircraft was engaged in another airstrikes carrying S-24 rockets (diameter 24 cm or 9.4 inches), while MiG-23ML serial number "453" took off from Labraq AB.

Mi-35Ps from Labraq AB engaged in airstrikes against ISIS in Derna for two days

The Mi-35Ps of Libyan National Army Air Force (stationed at Labraq air base) launched airstrikes in Derna for two days. Yesterday, they targeted a supposed weapons and ammunition store, and a gathering of ISIS militants using FAB-250 unguided bombs. The video below was published by LNA AF and is supposed to show yesterday operation.

Libyan National Army Air Force has deployed MiG-21s to Ra's Lanuf Airport to carry out airstrikes last year

In January 2015, the battle for Libya’s two largest oil ports at the towns of al-Sidr and Ras Lanuf was going on between Libya Dawn militia and Libyan National Army. On December 13th, 2014, Libya Dawn forces, drawn mostly from Misratan militias, launched “Operation Sunrise” to wrest the terminals from Jathran and his Dignity backers. The fighting shut down the terminals’ operations. On December 25th, a rocket struck a storage tank, igniting an inferno that blotted the sky with thick black smoke. The blaze was subdued only after nine days. On 28th, LNA AF staged airstrikes on Misrata, targeting the port, an air force academy near the airport and Libya's biggest steel plant located in western city. On 30th, LNA Forces down a helicopter from Libya Dawn as it prepared to land at a military base near Sirte Airport, after it had taken part with other aircrafts in air raids on al-Sidr oil terminal (1) (2) The day after, another aircraft belonged to Fajir Libya militia was forced down after a similar attack on the oil terminal (3). On January 5th, 2015, LNA AF hit a Greek-owned tanker chartered by Libya's National Oil Corporation off the coast of Darna. To perform all of these airstrikes, the LNA AF has deployed MiG-21s and MiG-23s close to the battle at Benina AB. According to the video below, it seems that some "Fishbed" were also deployed to Ra's Lanuf Airport very close to the oil ports. As already written on this blog, LNA forces are assisted by Agusta A109 helicopters since a long time for coastal monitoring and assisting bombing missions. The A109 serial number "5A-DTJ" can be seen as it overflew the runway, together with MiG-21bis serial number "800" and MiG-21MF serial number "22" or "27".

Libyan National Army Air Force MiG-21 targeted a barge coming from Misrata

On March 18, 2016 morning, a Libyan National Army Air Force MiG-21 targeted a barge coming from Misrata city loaded with ten tanks, three BMPs, three Grad Rocket launchers and other armoured vehicles. This barge was towed by a tug and was coming as support for the remainder of the terrorist groups in the city of Benghazi. The barge was badly damaged on the right side and took fire. Three tugs were sent in a desperate attempt to save what remained of the barge and tried to hide it. The scene was filmed by the camera of an Agusta A109 helicopter after a Navy radar identified the approximate location of the trailer.

Libyan National Army uses Agusta A109 helicopters for recce and assisting bombing missions

Two days ago, this blog published the video of Mi-8 and Mi-35 airstrikes in Benghazi seen through the FLIR of two unidentified aircrafts. It seems that one of these aircrafts was an Agusta A109 helicopters in service in the Police. Libyan National Army uses them for recce and assisting bombing missions against terrorist groups.

Mi-8T seen through the FLIR of an Agusta A109 helicopter during a bombing mission

Iraqi Air Force lost a Cessna AC-208 Gran Caravan

Iraqi Air Force lost one of its Cessna-208s in the vicinity of Hawjah near Kirkuk today. According to ISIS militants, the aircraft was shot down by a 57mm machine-gun. It can be identified as serial "YI-119" (c/n "208B-1309") and was delivered on August 9th, 2011. The type is an AC-208 and was used as an attack airplane by the using of its two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and was part of the 3rd Attack and Reconnaissance Squadron. The three crew members (Brigadier General Ali Falih, Col. Mohammed Kazem and Maj. Mohamed Abdel Wahab) were killed in the crash. 

Exclusive footage of Libyan National Army Mi-8 and Mi-35 engaged against terrorist groups in Benghazi

Yesterday, the Libyan National Army Air Force published a video showing the supposed airstrikes mission of two helicopters against Kharijites and Qaibdna terrorists group in Benghazi. At the begining of the video, a Mi-8T equipped with French made 250kg Type 25A1 SAMP aerial unguided bomb can be seen together with the Mi-35 serial #858, a former LAF "Hind". At 00:50, a Mi-35P (one of the last delivered by U.A.E. in April 2015) is taking off, while a Air Ambulance Mi-8 and an armed "Hip" do the same at 01:05 and 01:15. These helicopters are probably not the same seen in the rest of this video montage. Starting 02:08, static footage of the FLIR of an unidentify aircraft (Mi-8 ? Mi-35 ?) show a precision strike against a building occuped by militants (a tank can be seen nearby). The last part of the video is the supposed strike back off the two helicopters (in fact another montage).

Libyan National Army Air Force MiG-21s carried out first night sorties

Following the first night missions performed by the Mi-8 and Mi-35 helicopters yesterday with implementation of night vision systems, the Libyan National Army Air Force decided to engage its MiG-21s (and seemingly its single MiG-23) this night in the skies over Benghazi, Derna and Syrte. The systems used by the pilots are probably night-vision goggles because in the cockpit of a MiG-21, there is not enough space to implement anything else. The two videos below show the takeoff and landing of  MiG-21bis serial "404" at night this evening at Benina AB.

Libyan National Army used night vision systems and RBK-250 cluster bombs on its helicopters for night combat missions

Since March 7th, 2016, the Libyan National Army Mi-8 and Mi-35 helicopters are equipped with night vision systems to performe airstrikes by night according to Libyan pilot officers. In the late hours of the night of March 8th, LNA AF helicopters may have destroyed two bulldozers western city of Benghazi, near the resort jewel, using this night vision system. The bulldozers were loaded with fighters and ammunition in support of the so-called SCBR (Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries) and has been monitored since the morning.

Mi-8T equipped with RBK-250 cluster bomb seen at Benina AB ready to take off in the late hours of the night of March 8th

During the evening of March 9th, LNA Air Force launched airstrikes on military targets scattered in the city of Benghazi, terrorist militias in the area around the cement factory area at Hawari.

New MiG-21s and Mi-8s for Libyan National Army Air Force

Sunday, March 6th, 2016, a formation of six new MiG-21s and six new Mi-8s arrived at Gamal Abdel Nasser airbase near Tobruk according to Libyan National Army Air Force pilot officer. The origin of these aircrafts is not yet known, but suspicion focused on Egypt, which has already delivered at least eleven Mi-8Ts and seven MiG-21MFs which we must add the numerous spare parts for the maintenance of the fleets of "Fishbed". On the three first photos below, the Mi-8s are seen flying over Tobruk. On the fourth pictures, we can notice that the Egyptian serial, flag and roundel are hidden. The Libyan National Army Air Force has now in its inventory 26 fighter jets : 23 MiG-21s, one MiG-23ML, one Su-22UM, one Mirage F1AD; the Libyan National Army Aviation has 27 helicopters : five Mi-35s, 21 M-8s and one Mi-171.

The six new Mi-8s in the sky of Tobruk on March 6th, 2016