No-fly zone over Libya

[LeGrig]

Anyone catch what plane was downed this morning, that belonged to Ghedaffi's forces?

It looked like a Russian made...

Looks like a MiG-23; it's wing in medium angle position as for low, fast cruise.
Went down as the engine(s) blown, possible due to a ground-to-air portable (IR). Also, it seems that some bombs still aboard when hitting ground.

 

[LeGrig]

The rebels recognized that the plane belonged to them...

The same news from an AP source is being feeded on several places.

UN/NATO/UE just imposed the "no fly zone" and the rebels started to fly fighters in great joy! I doubt rebels would be able to fly any fighter!

 

[kramxel]

Looks like a MiG-23; it's wing in medium angle position as for low, fast cruise.
Went down as the engine(s) blown, possible due to a ground-to-air portable (IR). Also, it seems that some bombs still aboard when hitting ground.

Thanks!

Just saw a picture on The Telegraph, and it sure looks like a MIG-23.

(can't post a link as I've not reached 10 posts).

P.S: The same picture shows the pilot ejected, as the shute is shown.

 

[kramxel]

UN/NATO/UE just imposed the "no fly zone" and the rebels started to fly fighters in great joy! I doubt rebels would be able to fly any fighter!

It's quite strange as everyone initially reported that it was a Ghedaffi plain, and now that AP report shows up...

Don't know if it's 100% accurate, especially considering the source is a telephone cal...

 

[kato]

UN/NATO/UE just imposed the "no fly zone"

Only the UN. NATO and the EU have nothing to do with it.

I doubt rebels would be able to fly any fighter!

They already performed sorties with MiG-23 before.

 

[kramxel]

I'm seeing reports of French fighters attacking Lybian tanks...

Isn't this considered an extension of the actual mandate?

 

[destructivetouch]

I'm seeing reports of French fighters attacking Lybian tanks...

Isn't this considered an extension of the actual mandate?

they destroyed 4 tanks for qaddafi forces...

arabian news....

 

[SASWanabe]

they destroyed 4 tanks for qaddafi forces...

arabian news....

of or for? big difference

 

[swerve]

Of.

Definitely not for.

 

[swerve]

Meanwhile it seems Benghazi is about to fall. Gaddafi's troops have entered the city. Also his air force is still flying sorties despite the UN resolution. At this rate by the time the no-fly zone is enforced, there will be no rebels left, which leaves me wondering... what's the point?

It took Gaddafi a week to capture Zawiya (much smaller than Benghazi, with far fewer & less well armed defenders) after announcing that it had fallen.

Last I heard, Misuratah is still not completely taken. That's been surrounded for weeks, & is also smaller & more weakly defended than Benghazi.

And now the French are bombing his AFVs.

 

[destructivetouch]

of or for? big difference

yeah........of
sorry

 

[kramxel]

According to CNN, Tomahawks have been fired against the SAM sites.

The US starts it's activity...

 

[destructivetouch]

i think qaddafi will not use his SAMs aginst french or any other no fly zone fighters ! he

know if he did that,he will begin abig war against superpower countries ,he is smarter than doing that...

 

[T.C.P]

From a technical point of view I am really interested on the performance of the Rafales and Typhoons, a good showing here will help generate more foreign sales.

 

[Feanor]

It took Gaddafi a week to capture Zawiya (much smaller than Benghazi, with far fewer & less well armed defenders) after announcing that it had fallen.

Last I heard, Misuratah is still not completely taken. That's been surrounded for weeks, & is also smaller & more weakly defended than Benghazi.

And now the French are bombing his AFVs.

I go to bed, and when I wake up this stuff happens...

I guess it will hinge on whether the other nations will join in an all out air war against Gaddafi's ground forces. I doubt France alone will be able to do enough damage.

 

[destructivetouch]

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- French fighter jets deployed over Libya fired at a military vehicle on Saturday, the country's first strike against Moammar Gadhafi's military forces who earlier attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

The French Defense Ministry, which confirmed the strike, said its attack aircraft being used to take out tanks and artillery have deemed Benghazi and the surrounding area an "exclusion zone."

The French are using surveillance aircraft and two frigates in the operation to protect civilians. The aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle is soon going to be en route from Toulon, France.

 

[destructivetouch]

From a technical point of view I am really interested on the performance of the Rafales and Typhoons, a good showing here will help generate more foreign sales.

but let's be honest,,with avery weak libyan airforce and aweak airdefence,
it's not areal test for both fighters (rafale and typhoon)..

 

[destructivetouch]

The U.S. Navy fires the first U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libyan leader's Muammar al-Qaddafi's air defenses Saturday, Fox News has learned.

The U.S. military strikes clear the way for European and other planes to enforce a no-fly zone designed to ground Qaddafi's air force and cripple his ability to inflict further violence on rebels, U.S. officials said.

 

[kramxel]

112 Tomahawks fired according to Pentagon press conference live on CNN...

Lauched from US and UK subs and US ships.

 

[Commander Krill]

That's one hell of a strike so far. Let's not forget, this is phase one of a multi-phase operation.

112 Tomahawks dumped on Anti-Air defences, God only knows what's coming next. No doubt more air assets bombing ground targets.