Balloon busting

by Krzysztof Dabrowski

With various events commemorating the centennial of the First World War or the Great War as the global conflict is also known the attention of aviation enthusiasts is among other things drawn to the so call balloon busting – that is to the shooting down of enemy aerostats which was an important part of World War One aerial warfare. This was so despite the fact that powered flight was by that time already well established. However aerostats still played an important role, especially observation blimps were of great use allowing to watch enemy positions and look behind his lines. For obvious reason neither of the warring side could tolerate this and hence the aforementioned balloon busting. It is less known however, that many balloons and other aerostats were also shot down in times chronologically much closer.  In particular the Cold War saw many such incidents occurring but they also took place even more recently – leaving the former for another time it seems fitting to bring to attention the latter.

A new offensive in the Oil Crescent could reshuffle the cards in Libya

On March 3, 2017, fighters from Saraya Defend Benghazi — also known as Benghazi Defense Brigade, an Islamist militia group that formed in June 2016 to oppose the dominant Libyan National Army and its popular leader Gen. Khalifa Hafter — together with members of Ibrahim Jadhran’s Petroleum Facilities Guard and Misrata’s Al Marsa Brigade, attacked An Nawfaliya, Bin Jawad, Es Sider and Ras Lanuf in Libya’s Oil Crescent.

Their goal was to seize the oil terminals in those towns. And thus control Libya’s wealth. The attack has upended the Libyan civil war.

All Bets Are Off as a Surprise Offensive Roils the Libyan War - Libyan National Army oil facilities fall to lightning assault

Russia has provided at least one fighter jet to Libya National Army

By Arnaud Delalande and Wolfgang Pusztai

On Feb. 24, 2017, photographs taken by Libyan National Army Air Force technicians — and which appeared on social media — revealed that Russia appears to have supplied at least one warplane to forces under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar’s army, concentrated in eastern Libya and based in Tobruk, is the chief rival of the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord based in the western capital of Tripoli. The 73-year-old marshal, who once lived in exile near the CIA headquarters in Virginia, has received military support from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries.

And, as the evidence strongly suggests, Russia as well.

It Looks Like Russia Gave a Fighter Jet to Libya’s Warlord

My publication in March

This month, two of my short reports are published in March Issue of Air Force Monthly about the deployment of Nigerian Air Force in Gambia and a combat report about Iraqi Air Force and Iraqi Army Aviation in action in the battle of Mosul.

Les émirati sont sur le point de déployer des chasseurs en Libye

Base aérienne d'al-Khadim au 30 décembre 2016 (TerraServer)

De nouvelles photos satellites de la base aérienne d’al-Khadim prises en décembre dernier montrent clairement que les Emirats Arabes Unis sont sur le point de déployer des chasseurs sur le territoire libyen. L'engagement de la force aérienne d'Abu Dhabi aux côtés du maréchal Haftar a déjà été confirmé depuis plusieurs mois. En effet, les IOMAX AT-802 Air Tractor et les drones Wing Loong de fabrication chinoise sont situés sur la base aérienne d'al-Khadim depuis au moins le mois de juillet. Leurs pilotes - la plupart d'entre eux des mercenaires américains travaillant pour Erik Prince – ont régulièrement effectué des missions de soutien aérien au profit de l'Armée Nationale Libyenne contre les groupes islamistes à Benghazi.

Emirati are on the verge of deploying fighter jets in Libya

New satellite photos of the al-Khadim airbase taken in December clearly show that the United Arab Emirates are on the verge of deploying fighter jets on Libyan territory. The engagement of the air force of Abu Dhabi alongside Marshal Haftar has already been confirmed for several months. Indeed, IOMAX AT-802 Air Tractors and Chinese-made Wing Loong drones are located on al-Khadim airbase since at least July. Their pilots - most of them are American mercenaries working for Erik Prince as source told War Is Boring in January - regularly carried out air support missions for the benefit of the Libyan National Army against Islamic groups in Benghazi

Emirati Fighter Jets Could Help Tip the Libyan Civil War - A deployment of Mirage 2000s appears to be imminent

The JAPCC has reviewed "Iraqi Air Power Reborn"

The Joint Air Power Competence Centre has published a review of my book Iraqi Air Power Reborn in the 23rd issue (p115) of the JAPCC journal.

The Joint Air Power Competence Center (JAPCC) is a NATO-accredited, multinational Center of Excellence (COE) based in Kalkar, Lower Rhine. The main focus of the JAPCC is the further development of the strategic / operational leadership and deployment principles for the use of NATO and JAPCC nations' airspace and space. This multi-national center of excellence, which is based on a German initiative, was launched in 2005. Since then, the JAPCC has been stimulating the further development of "Air and Space Power" through numerous concept papers and publications as well as the participation of various committees and working groups.

My publication in January

This month, I published in issue 18 of The Aviation Historian magazine about the story of Dassault Mirage in Zairian Air Force (FAZA). These aircraft were often piloted by French instructor for training Zairian, but also for attack missions, notably during the second Shaba war in 1978 (or Kolwezi crisis).

Mon interview pour RFI le 16 janvier 2017

Mon interview avec Olivier Fourt pour RFI (Radio France Internationale) le 16 janvier à propos des opérations menées en Libye par les pilotes d'Erik Prince (fondateur de l'ex-Blackwater) aux commandes des avions AT-802 "Air Tractor" déployés par les Emirats Arabes Unis en soutien au Général Haftar.

Interview audio




Erik Prince, fondateur de la société Blackwater, louerait ses services en Libye

Islamist militia used Chinese made dispersed landmines in Benghazi

On 8 December 2016, pro-LNA social-media account published footage of an unused Chinese made Type 84 remotely delivered antivehicle landmine with TYPE 122-15 ATML rocket found in Ganfouda district in Benghazi in a place seized from BRSC fighters few days ago. This is believed to be the first recorded use in Libya since the 2011 uprising and first by islamist militia forces fighting the LNA.

Terrific — Libyan Militants Now Have Deadly Chinese Landmines

LNA Air Force has now only one 'Flogger' in its fleet

Today, Libyan National Army Air Force lost its sole MiG-23ML in service, serial number '26453'. According to LNA Spox, the aircraft was shot down and crashed in Ganfouda / Bosnib area in Benghazi. The pilot, Colonel Younes Aldinạli, ejected, but suffered of a broken ankle on the left foot and some bruises. MiG-23ML '26453' entered in service in February 2016 soon after the lost of three others 'Flogger' in two months. Two MiG-23BNs were added to the fleet in April and May, but serial '8985 crashed on 6 July.

Erik Prince’s Mercenaries Are Bombing Libya

On Jan. 11, 2017, Intelligence Online — a professional journal covering the world’s intelligence services — revealed that the pilots of Air Tractor attack planes flying from Al Khadim air base in Libya are private contractors working for Erik Prince, the founder of the company formerly known as Blackwater. War Is Boring’s own sources in Libya confirmed the assertion. Our sources said that the pilots flying the United Arab Emirates Air Force IOMAX AT-802 Air Tractors — converted crop-dusters — are mercenaries and aren’t Arabs. Most of the for-profit aviators are American, according to IOL. Prince denied involvement in the UAE air operations.

Erik Prince’s Mercenaries Are Bombing Libya - For-profit combat pilots fly Emirati Air Tractors

A New Civil War Could Break Out in Libya

A New Civil War Could Break Out in Libya

Fresh fighting would pit the Libyan National Army against the Government of National Accord

by Wolfgang Pusztai and Arnaud Delalande

Beginning in December 2016, the Saraya Defend Benghazi — also known as Benghazi Defense Brigade — an Islamist militia group that formed in June 2016 to oppose Gen. Khalifa Haftar’s Tobruk-based Libyan National Army, was involved in the attack on facilities in Libya’s Oil Crescent.

The LNA decisively repulsed the attacks. But the wider conflict is only deepening — and could spark a new civil war in Libya pitting the two major claimants to the country’s leadership. Haftar and his allies in Tobruk on one side. On the other, the Government of National Accord in Tripoli.

Resource constraints on both sides could head off further fighting — assuming the local allies of both Haftar and the GNA behave themselves.

More infos : A New Civil War Could Break Out in Libya

Il y a 30 ans, l'Armée de l'Air frappait une nouvelle fois Ouadi-Doum

Yvon Goutx à bord de son Mirage F1CR au-dessus du Tchad (Crédit photo : Yvon Goutx)

Au cours de l'opération Manta, les forces françaises avaient établi une "Ligne rouge" le long du 15e parallèle - une position ayant pour but le blocage de toute avance des troupes de Mouammar Kadhafi ou de Goukouni Oueddei dans le sud du Tchad - qui fut étendue au 16e parallèle lorsqu'un Jaguar fut abattu et son pilote tué en janvier 1984. Le 16 février 1986, l'armée de l'air française lança un premier raid aérien sur une base aérienne libyenne construite près de l'oasis de Ouadi-Doum dans le nord du Tchad. La piste fut complètement détruite par onze Jaguar utilisant des bombes BAP-100, ainsi commençait l'Opération Epervier. Au début de janvier 1987, Habré voulu profiter de l'engagement des Libyens dans le Tibesti pour attaquer la ville de Fada. En représailles, les chasseurs libyens franchirent la ligne rouge pour frapper Oum-Chalouba et Arada, les forces françaises basées à Kalaït recevant quelques bombes.

Iraqi Army Aviation Mi-35M crashed near Baiji

An Iraqi Army Aviation Mi-35M crashed near Baiji this morning killing the four crew members : Pilot Mojtaba Kazazi Hilal, Lieutenant Hussein Kamel, Joey Omar Arif, Weapons technician Jabbar. The 35th Attack Squadron of Iraqi Army Aviation lost four others Mi-35M before, one crashed at Al-Saqlawiyah near Fallujah on 16 June 2014 and another was shot down on 3 October 2014 by a FN-6 MANPADS between Baiji and al-Senniyah. On 4 November, a pilot managed to make an emergency landing after beeing wounded by ground fire west of Ramadi. The helicopter and its crew were safe. On 22 August 2015, Mi-35M serial “YI-361” has made an emergency landing in a safe area west of Samarra after hit a power line. The crew was wounded and the helicopter suffered damages after starting to burn. On 4 April 2016, another Hind crashed near al-Kut airbase injuring the two crew members. On mid-2013, a contract was signed for an order of 28 Mi-35M and fifteen Mi-28NE helicopters. Twenty units have been already delivered into five batches of four : first in November 2013, the last on 26th August 2015. The fifteen remaining helicopters are in service with 35th Attack Squadron.