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| Free Libyan Air Force | |
|---|---|
| القوات الجوية الليبية الحرة | |
| Active | March 2011 – October 2011 |
| Country |  Libya |
| Allegiance | National Transitional Council |
| Branch | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 3,000 volunteers 28+ aircraft |
| Part of | Anti-Gaddafi forces |
| Headquarters | Benina Airbase,Benghazi |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of Staff | Saqr Geroushi |
| Notable commanders | Colonel Abdullah El-Hassi Colonel Ali Atiyya |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Fin Flash |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | MiG-21,MiG-23 |
| Helicopter | CH-47 Chinook,Mil Mi-2,Mil Mi-8,Mil Mi-14,Mil Mi-17 |
| Attack helicopter | Mil Mi-24 |
| Trainer | Aero L-39,SF.260,Soko G-2 Galeb,Soko J-21 |
| Transport | Il-76,An-26 |
TheFree Libyan Air Force (Arabic:القوات الجوية الليبية الحرة) was the air force of theNational Transitional Council during theFirst Libyan Civil War. It was established by and was a collection ofLibyan Air Force defectors with captured aircraft that aligned themselves with theanti-Gaddafi forces in the civil war.
On 13 March 2011, Ali Atiyya, a colonel of theLibyan Air Force at theMitiga military airport, nearTripoli defected and joined the revolution.[citation needed] This is the earliest reference to theanti-Gaddafi forces having Air Force personnel. Later on 16 March, as many as four MiG-21 fighter jets landed at Benghazi airport and joined the rebel forces; one of the MiG-21s crashed near Benina airport on the following day.
The Free Libyan Air Force showed itself for the first time on 15 March, launching an attack with a MiG-23 and a helicopter, sinking two pro-Gaddafi warships off the eastern coast near the front line of land battles at Adjabiya. Beforehand, the same aircraft also bombed an unspecified number of loyalist tanks near Brega and Ajdabiya.[1] The same day, it was reported that Sirte'sGardabya Airport had its runways bombed by Free Libyan Air Force jets.[2]On 19 March, aMiG-23 was shot down during theSecond Battle of Benghazi. Media reports were initially confused, until a spokesman confirmed that the plane belonged to the rebels.[3] A pro-Gaddafi spokesman said that the rebels had violated theUN no-fly zone.[4] A rebel spokesman claimed the aircraft was shot down by pro-Gaddafi forces.[5] Finally,BBC News reported on 20 March that the rebel aircraft was shot down byfriendly fire, and the pilot,Colonel Mohammed Mbarak al-Okaili,[6] was killed after ejecting too late.[7]Another rebel jet was downed the same day, though no further information was given and it is possible that it is the plane lost on 22 March.[8]
On 22 March, a pilot of the Free Libyan Air Force, Colonel Fakhri Alsalabi, flew his jet into Bab Al Azizia in an apparent suicide mission, causing extensive damage and leading to rumors of Khamis Gaddafi's death, who later was proven to have survived unharmed.[citation needed]
A total of 38 combat missions were flown by jet and helicopter pilots of the Free Libyan Air Force throughout March until the No Fly Zone was imposed, effectively grounding the small air force. Nine of these strikes were carried out by the rebels three Mi-35 helicopters gunships against Gaddafi's armoured columns advancing on Benghazi, one of which was destroyed.[8]
On 9 April, a single rebelMi-25 helicopter was seen flying overAjdabiya and[9] was claimed shot down by government forces.[10] That same day, a rebel MiG-23 fighter was intercepted by NATO aircraft and escorted back to its base.[11]
On 27 June 2011, three Free Libyan Air Force MiG-21s, one two seater and two single seaters were photographed over Benina Airport in Benghazi.
Later in the conflict, as supplies were being flown into areas of Libya besieged by Gaddafi loyalists, MiG-21 fighter jets under opposition control escorted the supply planes to protect them from loyalist attack.[12]
After gaining permission from NATO, anAN-26 andBAE-146 of the Free Libyan Air Force flew from Libya for the 2011 Malta International Air Show on 24 and 25 September, joining the twoMirage F1s already stationed there. Libyan Air Force Brigadier General Mohammed Rajab conducted a ceremony where the Libyan Air Force green roundels on the Mirage F1s were replaced by the FLAF tricolour roundel, followed by the aircraft conducting the first foreign display by the FLAF. It was revealed at the airshow that the BAE-146 had been used for 32 covert flights during the conflict in spite of the no-fly zone, landing on desert roads to supply ammunition and transport injured rebels to hospital. The aircraft had been commanded by Capt Ali Samoussi. The Libyan Ambassador,Saadun Suayeh, was present, and described the replacement of the roundels as a moment of "pride, joy and honour", and expressed his hope that the aircraft would soon return to Libya.[13]
On 23 October, three FLAF Mi-14's conducted a flypast at thedeclaration of national liberation ceremony inBenghazi overseen byMustafa Abdul Jalil.
During the 2012 Sabha clashes a Free Libyan Air Force MiG-21bis and MiG-21UM were deployed to the area.
On April 11, 2012 a Free Libyan Air Force Mi-8T(cn8335) crashed on takeoff at Murzuq Airport after being overloaded. All 25 people on board survived though.
On April 12, 2012, a Free Libyan Air Force Mirage F1ED(cn502) crashed near Kasr El Hamrouniya Ben Gashir. The pilot was apparently killed in the crash. This accident is unconfirmed.
Following the near complete destruction of the Libyan air force by NATO bombing, the Free Libyan Air Force has since effectively become the new Libyan Air Force. It is unknown whether or not the Free Libyan air force exists still or if it is now totally integrated as part of the Libyan Air Force.
On 20 June 2012 the Air Force Chief of Staff, Saqr Geroushi, announced plans for the rebuilding of the Libyan Air Force. The plans included proposals for the purchase of two squadrons of French Rafale fighter aircraft, a number of French F1-Mirage jets, British Eurofighter Typhoons, and American C-130 Hercules cargo planes and Chinook helicopters.[14]
The Free Libyan Air Force is looking to acquire up to 22 medium to heavy lift helicopters for cargo and troop ferrying. Known contenders are theMil Mi-26 Halo,AgustaWestland AW101, andBoeing CH-47D/F Chinook.[15]
| Aircraft | Country of origin | Type | Version | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter Aircraft | |||||
| Mirage F1 |  France | fighter aircraft | F1ED | 2 | 2 defected to Malta on 21 February 2011, handed back on 22 February 2012. One F1ED (cn502) crashed on 12 April 2012 killing the pilot (this accident is unconfirmed.) Two airframes spotted during the second anniversary of the uprising in 2013.[16] |
| MiG-21 |  Soviet Union | fighter aircraft | MiG‑21bis | 2 | Several captured in Benina and Tobruk airbases. Up to four MiG-21bis/UM defected atBenina airbase.[17] One MiG-21bis crashed after take-off from Benina airport due to technical malfunction on 17 March 2011.[18] One of these was deployed along with a MiG-21UM during the 2012 Sabha clashes. |
| MiG-23 | Soviet Union | fighter aircraft | MiG‑23ML | 2 | Four captured by rebels atTobruk air base.[19] Four captured by rebels in hangar atMisrata.[20] One captured by rebels at Al-Abrak.[21] One MiG-23BN claimed to be lost over Tripoli on 13 March 2011. One MiG-23 was shot down over Benghazi on 19 March 2011. At least one is based at Benghazi along with a MiG-23UB. |
| Trainer Aircraft | |||||
| Aero L-39 Albatros |  Czechoslovakia | light attack/trainer | Aero L-39ZO | 3 | Two seized during the battle of Tripoli.[22] At least 3 operational in 2013.[23][24][25] |
| Soko J-21 Jastreb |  Yugoslavia | ground-attack aircraft | J-1E | N/A | Two defected toBenghazi on 24 February. Current status unknown. |
| Soko G-2 Galeb | Yugoslavia | fighter trainer | G-2A-E | 4 | Several captured in Misrata airbase;[20] At least 4 operational in 2013.[26] |
| Aermacchi SF.260 |  Italy | basic trainer | SF.260WL/ML | 6 | Several captured in Misrata airbase. At least 6 operational in 2013.[27] |
| MiG-21 | Soviet Union | Lead-In Trainer | MiG-21UM | 2 | 2 confirmed via photographs. One of these was deployed along with a MiG-21bis during the 2012 Sabha clashes. |
| MiG-23 | Soviet Union | Lead-In Trainer | MiG-23UB | 1 | At least one based at Benghazi along with a MiG-23ML. |
| Transport Aircraft | |||||
| British Aerospace 146 |  United Kingdom | regional airliner | BAe 146-300 | 1 | Used formedical evacuation and delivering medical supplies,[28] as well as supplying ammunition to remote rebel units. |
| Ilyushin Il-76 | Soviet Union | strategic airlifter | Il-76TD | 2 | Seized by theUnited Arab Emirates inDubai, transferred to the Free Libyan Air Force on 11 August,[29] additional one seized during the battle of Tripoli. Probably not airworthy.[22] |
| Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | medium transport | 3 | One captured by protesters in Kufra on 17 February,[30] two seized during the battle of Tripoli. Probably not airworthy.[22] | |
| C-130 Hercules |  USA | tactical transport | C-130H | 1 | [31] |
| Lockheed L-100 Hercules | USA | transport | 1 | [31] | |
| Helicopters | |||||
| Aérospatiale Gazelle | France /Yugoslavia | Attack helicopter | ? | ? | |
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook | United States | heavy transport helicopter | CH-47C | 1 | One seized during the battle of Tripoli. Probably not airworthy.[22] |
| Mil Mi-2 |  Poland | transport helicopter | Mi-2 | 1+ | Several captured in Misrata airbase; currently status is unknown. |
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | transport helicopter | Mi-8T/MT | 1 | Captured in abandoned condition at Ra's Lanuf airfield on 4 March.[30] Another Mi-8T(cn8335) crashed April 11, 2012 without any fatalities. |
| Mil Mi-14 | Soviet Union | ASW helicopter | Mi-14 | 3 | At least three captured in Benina airbase.[32] |
| Mil Mi-17 | Soviet Union/ Russia | transport helicopter | Mi-17 | 2+ | At least one captured inBenghazi. One was seen during the Battle of Sirte, another during the Battle of Misrata.[33] |
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | attack helicopter | Mi-25 | 1 | At least two captured in Benina airbase;[34] One shot down by loyalist forces.[10] |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | |||||
| Aeryon Scout |  Canada | Miniature UAV | Aeryon Scout | 1[35] | Aeryon Labs Inc provided oneAeryon Scout to the Libyan rebels, including training provided by Zariba Security Corporation.[35][36] |
| Air defence SAM | |||||
| Lavochkin SA-2 | Soviet Union | Air defence SAM | SA-2 | 2 | At least two have been reported captured by anti-government protesters and defected military units in Tobruk. |
| SA-5 | Soviet Union | Air defence SAM | SA-5 | 1 | One captured by rebels near Bani Walid.[37] |
