Libyan Air Force
The Libya Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Libyan National Army. It was established in 1951, shortly after Libya gained independence from Italy. Initially, the air force relied on a small fleet of French and British aircraft. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Libya expanded its air force by acquiring modern military aircraft from both Soviet Union and Western sources. The Libya Air Force played a significant role in several conflicts, including the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the 1980s Chadian-Libyan conflict. In recent years, the air force has faced numerous challenges due to the political instability and civil war in Libya. As a result, its capabilities have been greatly diminished, with several aircraft destroyed or abandoned. Despite these challenges, the Libya Air Force maintains a limited operational capacity, primarily focused on providing close air support and conducting airstrikes against various armed factions in the country.
Key facts
| Official Name | Libyan Air Force |
| Local Name | القوات الجوية الليبية (Al Quwwāt al Jawwiyah al Lībiyah) |
| Country | 🇱🇾 Libya |
| World rank | #64 |
| Active aircrafts | 127 (as of 2024) |
| Aircrafts on order | 2 |
| Roundel |
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Number of active aircrafts by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Training | 65 | |
| Helicopters | 32 | |
| Combat aircrafts | 22 | |
| Transport | 8 | |
Aircrafts most used by Libyan air forces
| Aircraft | Active | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SF-260 | 37 | Italian light military trainer, globally utilized since the 1960s, renowned for its aerobatic capabilities and air force service. | |
| G-2 Galeb | 14 | Yugoslavian jet trainer and light-attack aircraft, historically deployed during the Yugoslav Wars and Libyan Civil War. | |
| MiG-21 Fishbed | 12 | Soviet supersonic jet fighter, renowned for extensive service during the Cold War, prevalent in various international conflicts. | |
| L-39 Albatros | 10 | Czech training jet, operational since the Cold War, deployed worldwide for various military aviation roles. | |
| Mi-2 Hoplite | 7 | Soviet light utility helicopter, broadly deployed in Eastern Europe, renowned for agricultural, rescue and military tasks since the 1960s. | |
| Mi-24 Hind | 7 | Soviet attack helicopter, renowned for Cold War use, predominantly deployed for airborne assault, close combat, and anti-armour roles. | |
| Mi-8 Hip | 7 | Soviet multipurpose helicopter, prevalent during the Cold War, extensively utilized for transport, combat and humanitarian operations globally. | |
| MiG-23 Flogger | 4 | Soviet third-generation jet fighter, notable for its service during the Cold War, often deployed in interceptor and ground-attack roles. | |
| Mirage F1 | 4 | French tactical fighter jet, prominent during the Cold War, extensively deployed in various intercontinental conflicts. | |
| H215M / AS532 Cougar | 3 | French utility helicopter, notable for search and rescue missions, extensively utilized in military and civilian sectors since the 1970s. | |
Full inventory in 2024
Libya Dawn
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | MiG-25 | 2 | |
| Transport | C-130H | 1 |
Libyan Air Force
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | MiG-21 | 12 | |
| MiG-23 | 3 | ||
| Mirage F1 | 2 | ||
| Su-24 | 2 | ||
| Su-22 | 1 | ||
| Helicopters | Mi-24/35 | 7 | |
| Mi-8/171 | 7 | ||
| Mi-2 | 6 | ||
| Mi-14 | 3 | ||
| CH-47C | 2 | ||
| AW139 | 1 | ||
| Training | SF-260 | 37 | |
| G-2 | 14 | ||
| L-39 | 10 | ||
| Mirage F1 | 2 | ||
| Mi-2 | 1 | ||
| MiG-23 | 1 | ||
| Transport | C-130J | 2 | |
| An-72 | 2 | ||
| C-130H | 1 |
Libyan National Army
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | H215/AS332 | 3 | |
| SA341 | 3 | ||
| Transport | An-12 | 1 | |
| An-32 | 1 | ||
| Il-18 | 1 | ||
| Il-76 | 1 |