This is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,who is not afraid to shoot down Vlad the Invader's combat aircraft (the rules of the game were written in Syria).
This is Boris Johnson,who is.
Showing posts with label No Fly Zone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No Fly Zone. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 March 2022
Thursday, 24 March 2011
French Shoot Down Libyan Aircraft
Reports are coming in that a Libyan Soko Galeb Ground attack aircraft has been shot down by French Fighter aircraft.
If the French aircraft involved was a Rafale this could be the type's first air to air kill and probably the first for any of the modern generation of "Eurocanards".
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Libyan No Fly Zone Update
Since our last post on this subject a great deal has changed so it is time for an update.
Unfortunately things are happening so quickly this will probably be overtaken by events before it is finished.
Information is patchy at present so this will be updated as more becomes clear.
Summary Of Recent Events
The United Nation Security Council passed the Libyan No Fly Zone (N.F.Z.) resolution.
Libya announced a ceasefire.
Countries which had opposed the N.F.Z. including Italy decided to allow their bases to be used making the operation far more practical.
Many countries have now offered to contribute assets including Britain,France,United States of America,Canada,Greece,Belgium,Denmark,Italy,Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
Operations have begun over Libya with reconnaissance and fighter sorties and most recently a large naval bombardment by cruise missiles.
Participating Aircraft
Belgium
6 F16s (349 Squadron/10 th Tactical Air Wing) at Araxos,Greece.
Britain
2 Sentry,1 Nimrod R1,Sentinel and VC10s are based at Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Tornados at Marham England United Kingdom.
Typhoons at Gioia del Colle,Italy.
Canada
6 CF18 Hornets at Trapani Birgi,Sicily,Italy
Denmark
6 F16s at Sigonella,Sicily,Italy
Norway
6 F16s
France
(Air Force)
2 Rafale B/C (Gascogne Squadron) at Saint-Dizier-Robinson,France.
2 Rafale B/C (Provence Squadron) at Saint-Dizier-Robinson,France.
2 Mirage 2000D (Ardennes Squadron) at Nancy,France.
2 Mirage 2000-5 (Cigones Squadron) at Dijon,France.
6 KC135 at Istres,France.
1 Puma,2 Caracal
(Navy)
Rafale (17F),Super Etendard (12F)
2 Dauphin,1 Alouette
Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle
Greece
4 f16,1 Eriyeye
2 Super Puma
Italy
4 Tornado ECR at Trapani Birgi
Qatar
4-6 Mirage 2000-5s
N.A.T.O.
E3 Sentry at Trapani Birgi
Norway
6 F16s
Spain
United Arab Emirates
24 Mirage 2000-9s and F16at Decimomannu,Sardinia,Italy.
(Navy)
United States of America
(Navy)
E/A18G Growlers at Sigonella,Sicily,Italy.
(Marine Corps)
Harrier II Plus on U.S.S.Kearsarge,Mediterranean Sea.
(Air Force)
1 Global Hawk at Sigonella,Italy.
F15E Strike Eagles at Lakenheath,England,United Kingdom.
F16CJ Fighting Falcons.
3 B2 Spirits at Whiteman Missouri,United States.
KC135 at Mildenhall,England,United Kingdom.
(Marine Corps)
Harrier II Plus on U.S.S.Kearsarge,Mediterranean Sea.
(Air Force)
1 Global Hawk at Sigonella,Italy.
F15E Strike Eagles at Lakenheath,England,United Kingdom.
F16CJ Fighting Falcons.
3 B2 Spirits at Whiteman Missouri,United States.
KC135 at Mildenhall,England,United Kingdom.
Basing
Italy has contributed access to a number of it's air bases and other facilities including Sigonella,Pantelleria,Gioia Del Colle,Pantelleria.
Spain has contributed access to a number of it's air bases and other facilities including Moron and Rota.
France is using a number of it's bases including Solenzara
Greece is permitting the use of it's bases.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
French Rafales Over Libya
The latest news from Libya is that French Rafales are now in action enforcing the no fly zone.
More to follow.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Libyan Ceasefire
The latest news from Libya is that the Libyan government has announced a ceasefire.
This is almost certainly in response to the threat of a no fly zone.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Libyan No Fly Zone Authorised
There are reports that the United Nations Security Council has just authorised a No Fly Zone over Libya.
Other Reports suggest that air forces from the Arab World will participate in the operation.
Italy is said to be prepared to allow it's bases to be used.
Italy had previously been opposed to the no fly zone.
Italian bases such as Sigonella are far closer to Libya than the British base at Akrotiri on Cyprus.
Italian "Host Nation Support" (H.N.S.) will make it far more practical for British combat aircraft to operate over Libya if they are based there.
This highlights how Britain is now dependent on foreign assistance to conduct combat operations.
The above graph shows the time on station at various radii of a typical modern fighter with 3 hours unrefuelled endurance at 500 miles per hour and also the number of such aircraft required to sustain a single aircraft on patrol for 24 hours assuming each aircraft flies 1 sortie per day.
Long distances between the base and operational area dramatically increase the assets which are required to generate a given level of air power.
Shortening those distances increases the air power which can be delivered by the available assets.
It will be interesting to see where British combat aircraft are based.
It will also be interesting to see where Canadian aircraft will be based as they are said to be contributing 6 CF18 Hornets to the operation.
Though we do not know how many aircraft will be involved in the no fly zone,the historic norm is that the nearest bases cannot accommodate them all.
Aircraft become spread across a spider's web of bases stretching across continental distances at ever increasing radii from the operational area.
This has the effect of increasing the number of combat aircraft required and increasing the demand for tanker aircraft.
The United States Ship (U.S.S.) Enterprise,a nuclear powered aircraft carrier was apparently in the Red Sea recently having left the Arabian Sea but is now reported to have returned to the Arabian Sea rather than passing through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean.
The assault ship U.S.S. Kearsarge is in the Mediterranean Sea.
She usually carries a small force of Harriers in addition to helicopters and marines but can carry a larger,all Harrier air wing.
We do not know how many Harriers she has aboard at present.
The French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle was recently in port in Toulon.
The United States Air Force has said that F22 Raptors may take part in operations,possibly the combat debut for that type as well as the Typhoon.
There are also American F16s based at Aviano.
It is not known if Greece will allow the use of facilities at Souda Bay on Crete.
Libya's 150 mile range SA-5 missiles are likely to be prime early targets for destruction.
A number of warships and submarines in the Mediterranean are capable of engaging such sites with cruise missiles.
Western air defence ships can also provide some air defence capabilities in coastal areas.
There is a possibility of 250 mile range Libyan Scud B missiles being used against targets on Malta which may be defended by Arleigh Burke class destroyers.
Italy is said to be prepared to allow it's bases to be used.
Italy had previously been opposed to the no fly zone.
Italian bases such as Sigonella are far closer to Libya than the British base at Akrotiri on Cyprus.
Italian "Host Nation Support" (H.N.S.) will make it far more practical for British combat aircraft to operate over Libya if they are based there.
This highlights how Britain is now dependent on foreign assistance to conduct combat operations.
Long distances between the base and operational area dramatically increase the assets which are required to generate a given level of air power.
Shortening those distances increases the air power which can be delivered by the available assets.
It will be interesting to see where British combat aircraft are based.
It will also be interesting to see where Canadian aircraft will be based as they are said to be contributing 6 CF18 Hornets to the operation.
Though we do not know how many aircraft will be involved in the no fly zone,the historic norm is that the nearest bases cannot accommodate them all.
Aircraft become spread across a spider's web of bases stretching across continental distances at ever increasing radii from the operational area.
This has the effect of increasing the number of combat aircraft required and increasing the demand for tanker aircraft.
The United States Ship (U.S.S.) Enterprise,a nuclear powered aircraft carrier was apparently in the Red Sea recently having left the Arabian Sea but is now reported to have returned to the Arabian Sea rather than passing through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean.
The assault ship U.S.S. Kearsarge is in the Mediterranean Sea.
She usually carries a small force of Harriers in addition to helicopters and marines but can carry a larger,all Harrier air wing.
We do not know how many Harriers she has aboard at present.
The French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle was recently in port in Toulon.
The United States Air Force has said that F22 Raptors may take part in operations,possibly the combat debut for that type as well as the Typhoon.
There are also American F16s based at Aviano.
It is not known if Greece will allow the use of facilities at Souda Bay on Crete.
A number of warships and submarines in the Mediterranean are capable of engaging such sites with cruise missiles.
Western air defence ships can also provide some air defence capabilities in coastal areas.
There is a possibility of 250 mile range Libyan Scud B missiles being used against targets on Malta which may be defended by Arleigh Burke class destroyers.
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