Within two days, 11 sorties have been carried out by French aircraft engaged in military operations over Libya.
Since March 19, Air Force and Navy assets have been deployed over and off Libya, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1973. The strikes enabled the destruction of four armoured vehicles from Colonel Gaddafi’s forces.
In the continuity of the operations launched on March 19, fifteen Air Force aircraft, 6 Rafale, 4 Mirage 2000 D, C 135 tankers and an E3F AWACS have flown for over 120 hours devoted to reconnaissance, air defence, air-traffic control and detection, as well as refueling in the Benghazi area.
Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle left Toulon and will soon be able to operate off the coasts of Libya along with the other ships belonging to the Carrier Strike Group (tanker Meuse, destroyer Dupleix and frigate Aconit). The destoyers Forbin and Jean Bart are already deployed on the operational area and offer the international coalition their powerful air detection means.
Saturday, March 19, twenty aircraft had already flown more than 135 hours, among which about 90 for fighters.
The Navy aircraft operate from the aircraft carrier and Air Force aircraft are currently operating from French Air Bases of Avord, Nancy, St Dizier, Dijon and Istres, as well as Evreux and Orléans for planes engaged in logistics.
The build-up of Solenzara Air Base in Corsica is now a further step in the global French participation in the international military intervention. Fighters flying back from missions over Libya are already stationed there.
Sources : EMA
Rights : Ministère de la Défense et des anciens combattants
