Rafale over Libya, days 7 and 8

The air operations over Libya are continuing for the French Air Force and Navy. Since last saturday March 21st, the Rafale is flying on a daily basis over the Libyan territory, exploiting almost the whole spectrum of its capabilities :

• Air defense with mica IR/EM missiles
• Stand off strikes with scalp-EG
• CAS and interdiction with AASM and GBU-12 bombs
• live Reconnaissance with reco-NG / AEREOS pod
• budy-budy refueling 

A GBU is loaded on a Rafale M

Wednesday March, 25th : French fighters are now operating over Misrata, Zintan, Syrte an Ajdabiyah zones. A total of 30 planes (fighters, AWACS, Tankers...) were engaged in various tasks.

Recce : 2 Rafale air / 2 Rafale M
Interdiction : 4 Rafale air / 4 Mirage 2000D / 1 Rafale M / 1 Sem
Air Defense : 2 Mirage 2000-5F / 2 Mirage 2000-5EDA (Qatar) : those aircraft are base at La Sude, Crete

Rafale C with 4 AASM and a Damocles pod

Saturday March 26th : The French MoD is reporting several strikes on the Zintan and Misrata zones. 5 Soko Galeb attack fighters and 2 Mi-35 attack helicopters would have been destroyed on the Misrata Air Base.

Recce : 2 Rafale M
Interdiction : 4 Rafale air / 4 Mirage 2000D / 2 Rafale M / 2 Sem
Air Defense : 2 Mirage 2000-5F / 2 Mirage 2000-5EDA (Qatar)

Source and Pictures credit : French MoD