Libya commercial for military hardware

[Duffy]

I’m not positive if I should have posted this on the Libya no fly zone or on its own?
I just finished reading an article from routers on msnbc.com (link below)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42420553/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

The article implies that enforcing the U.N resolution 1973 is also a great way to validate the abilities of modern fighters and the need for modern air defenses. Basically a live commercial for military hardware.

The question I have is does an operation like the one in Libya validate anything other than communications between the militaries involved? When it comes down to a country spending that much coin on new fighters and or an integrated air defense system. Would a piece of hardware first used in an operation like this be considered “Battle Tested”?

If possible I would like a professional’s point of view on how this can sway perspective buyers. All opinions are welcome of Corse.

Just curious.

 

[Swampfox157]

In my opinion, aircraft operating in support of UN 1973 are proving their ability to be operated in a combat environment at the very least. It's clearly not a high-threat environment for any aircraft, but we should also take the conflict type into consideration. Most conflicts today have been fairly similar to the Libya operation, in being militarily straightforward bombing and CAP operations. If Libya-type conflicts are what a country expects, the operation very much proves the operational capability of aircraft for this conflict type. It does NOT, however, validate a weapons system's effectiveness in the total-war scenario that should be in the back of every planner's mind.

The bottom line is that if a country's air force operates solely in support of 'typical' UN operations, Libya is a perfect proving ground. If the air arm is charged with fighting a well-equipped foe, we learn absolutely nothing. Obviously, a EF2000's performance against Fitter attack jets and Guideline and Goa SAM systems is radically different from how the system would fare against late-model Flankers and Grumble/Gargoyle SAMs.