"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 28 May - 3 June 2016

During this week, the GNA Air Force intensified its airstrikes against ISIS positions in Sirte in support of ground troops. It was during one of these air raids that a Mirage F1ED crashed 30 km west of the city of Sirte due to a fuel pump failure. GNA has also lost an air ambulance Mi-8T (serial number '8334') that crashed near Zuwara, west of Tripoli without casualties yesterday.

Libyan Mirage F1ED crashed near Sirte

The GNA (Government of National Accord) Air Force lost one its two Mirage F1EDs in service yesterday evening. The aircraft crashed 30 km west of the city of Sirte due to technical problem (fuel pump failure). The pilot ejected safely and came back to the airbase. One of these aircraft was return to service end of April. The second was waiting for a new engine. The maintenance of the two Mirages was complicated because most of F1 cells left by the former Libyan Air Force were based on al-Watiya airbase captured summer 2014 by the LNA. The Mirage F1 were the spearhead of the former Libya Dawn Air Force and were very involved in the recent bombing in Sirte and Abu Grein. GNA has now only two MiG-23MLDs, one J-21 and a few G-2s and L-39s operational.

Mirage F1ED serial "502" seen at Misrata airbase in April 2016

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 21 - 27 May 2016

On 20th May 2016, in an interview for the French channel I-Tele, general Haftar, head of the Libyan National Army, asked the dismantling of the Government of National Accord (GNA) forces as a prerequisite for a possible rapprochement in the fight against the Islamic State group : "An army can not unite to militias. So these militias must be dismantled. It is unthinkable for us to work with these armed factions". He added : "We are not facing Daech for seize the oil. When we fought at Derna, there was no oil. When we fought in Benghazi, there was no oil either. A Adjabiya, it was the same, there was no oil. But actually in Libya, there are huge resources that the Libyan people will benefit after the return to calm."

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 14 - 20 May 2016

On 16th May 2016, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council expressed their willingness to discontinue the arms embargo in favor of the Government of National Accord (GNA) to fight IS (Isalmic State). The next day, GNA through the Deputy Prime Minister Musa al-Kony has asked for planes and helicopters. This embargo is in effect since the beginning of the Libyan uprising via resolution 1970 adopted by the Security Council on 26th February  2011. It covers the arms and related material of all types - weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, equipment paramilitary and related spare parts (an exclusion applies to non-lethal equipment, technical assistance, training or financial support for the government of Libya through resolution 2009 of 16th September 2011 and the resolution of 2095 of 14th March 2013).

First new ‘VIPER’ from second Iraqi batch

The two first F-16C/D Fighting Falcon of the second batch of ‘Viper’ ordered by Iraq, started tests flight at NAS Fort Worth. These two units are F-16D serial number 1619/13-0032 and F-16C serial number 1621/13-0016.

On 12 December 2011 the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the Iraqi government’s request to purchase 18 F-16C/D Block 52 fighters (12 single-seat F-16Cs and six two-seat F-16Ds) and associated equipment, parts, weapons, training and logistical support at an estimated cost of USD2.3 billion. In October 2012, 18 more F-16C/Ds (12 F-16Cs and six F-16Ds) were ordered for delivery between 2017 and 2018, to equip a second squadron.

The first unit of the second group of 18 F-16s for the Iraqi Air Force , F-16D #1619 is seen launching on a test flight at NAS Fort Worth on 25th March, 2016. (Copyright : Keith Snyder)

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 7 - 13 May 2016

The situation update of this week is characterized by multiple events. Airstrikes were very intense in Benghazi, Derna by LNA AF (Libyan National Army Air Force) and in Abu Grein area by LDAF (Libya Dawn Air Force). In addition, the first images of new MiG-23 being refurbished appeared.

New MiG-23s for LNA AF

After the commissioning of one MiG-23ML and two MiG-23BNs the last months, mechanicians and engineers started working on MiG-23UB serial number '8008' and MiG-23BN serial number '9119'. This aircraft has no refueling probe contrary to MiG-23BNs serial '4136' and '8985'.

My publications in May

This month, I published an article in May-June issue of DSI Magazines about airpower during the seconde Libyan civil war. I describe the order of battle of the two air forces : LNA AF (Libyan National Army Air Force) in the side of Tobruk government, recognized by international authorities, and LDAF (Libya dawn Air Force) in the side of Tripoli government and Fajr Libya militias. I also contributed to Combat Aircraft Monthly in the "News world" chapter with a short article on the Su-25s delivered to Iraq. Ce mois-ci, j'ai publié un article dans le numéro de mai-Juin de DSI Magazines au sujet de la puissance aérienne durant la seconde guerre civile libyenne . J'y décris l'ordre de bataille des deux forces aériennes: LNA AF (Libyan National Army Air Force) du côté du gouvernement Tobrouk, reconnue par les instances internationales, et LDAF (Libya dawn Air Force) du côté du gouvernement de Tripoli et les milices de Fajr Libya . J'ai aussi contribué aux actualités dans Combat Aircraft Monthly avec un court article à propos des derniers Su-25 livrés à l'Iraq.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 30 April - 6 May 2016

This week, aerial operations were characterized by two majors events : the first flights of the two MiG-23BNs refurbished by engineers and mechanicians of the LNA (Libyan National Army) Air Force and the bombing by LD (Libya Dawn) Air Force MiG-23MLDs of LNA forces near Zillah.

Libyan National Army Air Force has now two MiG-23BNs operational

After the first flight of MiG-23BN serial number "8985" performed on 30th April, it is the turn of the serial number "4136" to fly for the first time on 4th May in the sky after ten years of storage. The refurbishing of these two aircrafts, which must be added the MiG-23ML serial number "26453", allows the LNA AF to regain the number of Flogger equivalent at the end of last year before losing its entire fleet in a month and a half.

Video of the first flight of Libyan MiG-23BN "8985"

On 30th April 2016, Libyan National Army Air Force MiG-23BN serial number "8985" made its first flight in the hands of Capt. Adel Jihani. This aircraft started to be refurbished few weeks ago, together with serial number "4136". These two fighter jets will be assigned to the new 1070 Sqn. This is the second "Flogger" operational in LNA AF since the lost of three of them in January and February.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 23 - 29 April 2016

Following the last situation update, many airstrikes were performed last week by the two Libyan Air Forces. Indeed, the week was characterized by greater communication from the LDAF (Libya Dawn Air Force) about its air strikes and one of its two Mirage F1EDs returned to service. LNA AF (Libyan National Army Air Force) also published new photos of the wreckage of the Mi-14 crashed at Labraq airbase.

Libya Dawn Air Force Mirage F1 returned to service ?

End of afternoon, the noise of an aircraft breaking the sound barrier was heard in the sky of Misrata. According to Misrata Air Academy, this fighter jet was one of the two Mirage F1EDs of Libya Dawn Air Force which has returned to service after having passed the test flight successfully. It is unclear when this Mirage really returned to service. On 17th April, local sources claimed that the two Mirage F1EDs have carried out airstrikes against IS positions in Sirte, but according to other sources close to LDAF, only one aircraft was operational.

Libyan Air Wars Part.2 : 1985-1986

Africa@War 21: Libyan Air Wars Part 2: 1985-1986

While the first volume in this mini-series spanned the first decade of confrontations between Libya, several of its neighbours but foremost the USA and France, between 1973 and 1985, the second is to cover the period of less than a year – between mid-1985 and March 1986, when this confrontation reached its first climax.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 16 - 22 April 2016

This week began by the large communication (video and photos) made by the LNA AF about the refurbishing of the two MiG-23BNs (serial number "4136" and "8985") and ended with the lost of one Mi-14 helicopter.

New Aero Vodochody L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft for Iraqi Air Force

Yesterday took place the ceremony of the 85th anniversary of the foundation of Iraqi Air Force. Most of the types of aircraft in service participated to the air show organized on this occasion including the Aero Vodochody L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircrafts. Two of them overflew the runway after three F-16IQs, followed by three Cessna-208 Caravans. But one L-159 was seen in static position (see photo below). This single-seater aircraft carries serial number "5905" (previous serials were "5903" and "5904"). According to AeroHisto blog sources, this delivery was not officially reported (included within IqAF pilots). On 26th March, Iraqi Air Force Commander, Gen Amin announced that second batch of L-159s would arrive in April and the third batch, three months later or less.

Last November, the first two L-159s arrived at Balad airbase. In 2014, Iraqi government signed a new agreement with Aero Vodochody for the supply of twelve L-159 light fighters.

Special thanks to Ra'is Urafa Fayli