Qaddafi’s trump card: The air force
Libya’s air force is made up of roughly 18,000 men and women, most of whom are staunch supporters of the regime. The elite military branch recruited from followers who were 100 percent loyal to the regime, and members of Gadhafi’s Gadhadfa tribe and its closely allied Magariha tribe were given preference during the selection process for recruits. They have shown a blind obedience to their commander in chief. Only a handful of pilots and officers have switched sides to join the opposition…
In the end, however, the really decisive factor in the battle might turn out to be the large number of military transport aircraft that Gadhafi purchased from Russian and American manufacturers. In just a few hours’ time, the seven squadrons of helicopters and transport planes can ferry government units and reinforcements to scenes of fighting anywhere within the country. The rebel army forming in the eastern part of the country also has almost nothing to counter them with. Although it has a handful of bombers that defecting pilots landed in enemy territory, the only thing it has to supply and transport its own forces are trucks and civilian vehicles…
For the moment, however, Gadhafi has held back from sending his elite troops into the fight. Granted, on Thursday, his warplanes bombed the eastern port city of Brega for the second day in a row. But that is only a small taste of what the Libyan air force is capable of.
Blowback
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And one of these ‘elites’ was shot down this morning at Ras Lanuf by a man in his fifties on his first day on the job.
France, you really need to do a better job training those ‘elite’ Mirage foreign pilots.
Limerick on March 5, 2011 at 2:43 PM
Well, if you can’t strafe your own people, raining down death and misery from above, what the heck is the point of being a ruthless dictator? Plus, what better way for individuals to seek retribution against those whom they feel have wronged them? Mother-in-law giving you dirty looks? BAM! Bye, bye, mother-in-law’s village!
cynccook on March 5, 2011 at 2:48 PM
Staunch enough that two fighters landed in Malta to defect. Staunch enought that two crew bailed over Benghazi and defected. Stauch enough that one helicopter crew, from PALESTINE, landed and threw up their hands.
Once that threat alarm in the cockpit goes beep beep beep these folks aren’t so staunch.
Limerick on March 5, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Mad Dog is being sly. He’s walking a fine line between using the air force just enough to cause wet britches amongst the rebels, but not so much as to give the European no fly advocates an excuse. That’s also the value of his chemical WMD. He’ll never use them because NATO would be in like a flash, but the threat is useful, just the same. He knows how to work around the edges.
a capella on March 5, 2011 at 2:53 PM
Yep. He knows the politicos in the US are pissing their pants over any and all options.
Limerick on March 5, 2011 at 2:54 PM
Yep.
As is normal, the press greatly overestimates the ability of the average (or even, so-called “elite”) arab military soldier. I’ve worked with many over the years and, as a group, they are undisciplined and in most respects unprofessional. (Braces for the inevitable avalanche of ‘but, but, but’ and “I don’t know what I’m talking about” flak…)
The sad fact is even an overconfident, unprofessional air force trumps rebel forces with none in most cases.
catmman on March 5, 2011 at 2:56 PM
Rebels are at the door, in Sirte, as we speak. Can they force the Armored door?
Limerick on March 5, 2011 at 2:57 PM
a capella on March 5, 2011 at 2:53 PM
Maybe not so much “Mad” as “Wicked.”
cynccook on March 5, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Who cares? This is NOT our fight.
KMC1 on March 5, 2011 at 3:19 PM
Their love for wasting ammo by firing into the sky as a statement of readiness for combat, grief at funerals, or joy at weddings, bothers me a bit. As does the fondness for wearing 200 lbs worth of antiaircraft ammo in crossed belts as a fashion accessory.
a capella on March 5, 2011 at 3:22 PM
I saw that article. Must have been one hell of a shot, because only one barrel was working!
wccawa on March 5, 2011 at 3:27 PM
His trump card is ruthlessness.
faraway on March 5, 2011 at 3:32 PM
These are all he needs. Very effective and very terrifying.
faraway on March 5, 2011 at 3:35 PM
Want to bet whether there were some SA-7s or Strela-3′s in those captured arms depots?
Those might dissuade some over-eager “pilots” from making low-level runs on rebel positions.
Joe Mama on March 5, 2011 at 3:37 PM
The trump card of those who are willing to do what is necessary to prevent a slaughter is to tell Gaddafi that if he uses his air force on his own people he’d better find a way to keep his planes in the air; for those on the ground will be destroyed by NATO.
Given Gaddafi’s response to the invasion of Iraq, a warning may be all that is necessary.
Basilsbest on March 5, 2011 at 4:26 PM