Intel Report
Re: Libyan and Egyptian air forces and air defense
Jan. 3, 2010
LIBYAN AIR ASSETS AND AIR DEFENSE
Main bases
Libya's air force is headquartered at Okba Ben Nafi Air Base (formerly Methega, and Wheelus AFB) located 7 miles due east of Tripoli. This is a well-equipped air base that has been developed with Russian assistance to support and maintain a full air force of over 200 combat aircraft. Another large air base is located at Benghazi and a third, Gamal Abdul Nasser Air Base, is situated a few miles southwest of Tobruk. Two other air bases are located near the Egyptian border -- at Al Kufrah Oasis and at Jabal al Uwaynat in the far south.
Air Defense
Libya deploys the SA-2, SA-3, and Crotale missiles. At least one battery of each of these types have been spotted at each of Libya's three main air bases (Okba Ben Nafi, Benghazi and Gamal Abdul Nassar). One battery of Crotale sites have been detected at each of the two smaller bases in the southeast. The Libyan Army also operates three SA-5 batteries which are currently at undisclosed locations (probably in storage.)
Aircraft
The Libyan air force is believed to consist of over 500 combat aircraft, with some reports suggesting the number is as high as 700. These aircraft include MiG-23s, MiG-25s, Su-24, Fencer 'D's, Su-27s and Mirage F.1EDs. At least one squadron of Tu-22 bombers are known to be located at Okba Ben Nafi AB.
Organization
Libya's air force is organized into one medium bomber squadron, three fighter interceptor squadrons, five forward ground attack squadrons, one counterinsurgency squadron, nine helicopter squadrons, and three air defense brigades. Exact distribution and numbers of each squadron are unknown at this time. According to French intelligence, however, we know that there are no more than 60 or 70 Mirage aircraft, which are believed to be poorly maintained due to the lack of French technical support. Those Mirage aircraft that are in service are believed to be located at Gamal Abdul Nasser Air Base.
Training
The number of well-trained pilots is nowhere near the number of planes in its inventory, a situation that Libya is apparently seeking to change through heavy recruitment efforts in recent years. While Libyan pilots are somewhat proficient in ground attack and to a lesser degree, maritime attack, they are particularly weak at air-to-air combat. As a whole, the Libyan air force is not very impressive in its response time, either, with a 20-to-30-minute reaction time noted during exercises in the Mediterranean back in 2005. It is unknown whether Libya has improved their proficiency in this areas since then.
EGYPT
Aircraft
21 fighter squadrons (F-16A, F-16C, Mirage 5D/E, Mirage 2000C, PRC J-7)
7 fighter-attack squardons (PRC J-6, F-4E, Mirage 5E2)
2 recce squadrons (Mirage 5SDR)
EW aircraft: 2 C-130H (ELINT), 4 Beech 1900 (ELINT), 4 Commando 2E helos (ECM)
AEW aircraft: 5 E-2C
Transport a/c: 19 C-130H, 5 DHC-5D, 3 Gulfstream III
ASW helos: 9 SA-342L, 5 Sea king 47, 10 SH-2G (naval)
Attack Helos: 4 squadrons (SA-342K, AH-64A)
Plus some 70-80 tactical transport helos (CH47C, Mi-8, Commando, S-70, Mi-4, UH-12, UH-60)
Air Defense
Egypt's air defense is particularly formidable, with an estimated 100 AD artillery battalions with over 2000 guns of various caliber, and many types of SAMs, including 100 or more I-Hawk and its own Tayir as Sabah (Morning Flight) SAM, a modernized version of the old Russian SA-2 with a slant range of 40-50 kms. The AD arsenal also includes shorter-ranged SA-3s. These systems are generally deployed around Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities along the Nile. In addition, Egypt also has 60 Soviet SA-6 SAMs on tracked vehicles as tactical launchers, plus 16 tracked vehicles providing mobile launching platforms for their 50 French-manufactured Crotale SAM launchers. Egypt has also deployoed its own composite gun-missile-radar system known as Amun (skyguard), integrating radar-guided twin 23mm guns with Sparrow and Egyptian Ayn as Saqr SAMs. Most of these latter systems have been deployed to the western sectors to defend against incursions from Libya.
Main Bases
Egypt has four main air bases located along the Mediterranean, the largest which is Cairo West, a major installation capable of handling an entire air force regiment as well as providing runways for very large aircraft, and three other large bases -- Mersa Matruh, near Alexandria, Sidi Barani, located in the west on the Mediterranean, and Habata, located some 33 miles southwest of Sidi Barani. Other air bases include An Shas, Beni Suef, Abu Suwayr and Genacklis. (GM's NOTE: Have not been able to find the location of these four bases).
Training
Training proficiency for the Egyptian Air Force is rated at slightly below that of US and European air forces in all aspects of aviation, though it is better-trained than Libya's air force. Proficiency is somewhat better still on F-16s, as Egypt received a great deal of training during Desert Storm in the early 1990's and has participated to some other training operations and joint exercises since that time.
END REPORT.