The loss of a Night Eagle drone in the Bani Walid area confirms the presence of US forces in this area where IS is thriving

The loss of a Night Eagle drone in the Bani Walid area confirms the presence of US forces in this area where IS is thriving
Version : November 29th, 2018
Number of pages : 7 (750 words)

9,99€

Footage of a US made Night Eagle UAV reportedly crashed in Wadi al-Mardum located 20-30 km eastern Bani Walid appeared on Libyan social media on November 28th. The front part of the drone that contains all the sensors and camera is missing probably destroyed in the crash or removed by its "discoverers". The aircraft has significant cracks on the underside of the fuselage, indicating that the impact on the ground was hard, but not too violent to keep the structure almost intact. The Night Eagle is a US-made UAV based on a modified Boeing Insitu ScanEagle Block E equipped with an infrared camera for night operations. In the past, the Bani Walid area was often targeted by unidentified aircraft. Already, on February 28th, 2016, a convoy of fifteen vehicles was attacked by unidentified aircraft in the Shimikh Valley near Bani Walid, the United States and the LNA denying any involvement in the attacks.

Publication in November 2018

This month, Air Forces Monthly magazine published my latest "Flashpoint" about the Burkina Faso Air Force. The air arm of Burkina Faso has had different titles over several years, gaining combat experience in the process. Today it’s part of the multinational ‘G5 Sahel Joint Force’, as I explain.

Marshall Haftar air power capacity could increase as UAE airbase in Libya is now ready to host fighter jets

Marshall Haftar air power capacity could increase as UAE airbase in Libya is now ready to host fighter jets
Version : November 10th, 2018
Number of pages : 8 (1430 words)

9,99€

Satellite imagery taken on November 10th, 2018, shows that al-Khadim airbase is now operational to receive a fleet of fighter jets. Indeed, the parking area under construction for two years is now “opened” on the runway. The expansion of the al-Khadim airbase which had been paused for more than half a year suddenly accelerated since October 2017. Al-Khadim is a former airport located in al-Marj province in eastern Libya. Since June 2016, Emirates IOMAX AT-802 “Air Tractor” turboprop aircraft and Chinese-made Wing Loong UAV have been deployed on this airbase on which extension works started to increase its capacity. The existing parking area was equipped with a dozen of shelters, half of them used to house aircraft and drones. This small fleet was engaged in airstrike and reconnaissance missions in support of Libyan National Army troops fighting islamist groups in Benghazi, in particular the Islamic State et the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council, or BRSC - a group with ties to Al Qaeda.