RAF Jets Could Enforce Libya No-Fly Zone

[Rockville]

RAF Jets Could Enforce Libya No-Fly Zone

The UK Government is considering basing Typhoon jets at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, according to Sky sources.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World- ... Over_Libya

[pjotrtje]

The UK Government is considering basing Typhoon jets at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, according to Sky sources.

Well, it is only 500NM one way from Akrotiri to the Egypt-Libyan border, and a 1.000NM to Tripoli. The RAF would need a hell of a lot of aircraft to do that efficiently. A force based at Malta would be more suited, or even one or two carriers could do the trick. Oh, wait, carriers... That would need Harriers... Ahem. So we're looking to the USA again

[SquAdmin]

The consequences of the cutbacks on Defense are visible already. The thing is, you have to take many scenario's into account and not assume that the Afghanistan mission will be a blueprint for future warfare...

[ehusmann]

Agree that it is not the same as Afghanistan, but it isn´t much different from what was done in Iraq. The big difference is that in Iraq the time to target was lower, but missions lasted 4hrs most of the time anyway. That wasn´t done without refuelling either. So as long as there are tankers available, this mission doesn´t seem to be that difficult to organize. Althoug it will need a large number of aircraft if you want aircraft on station round the clock.

But I wonder if this will come at all. I doubt Khadaffi will be in power for more than a week from now. So by the time the first Typhoons are over Libya the fighting will be mostly over already.

Erwin

[Flyboy]

I would not be surprised if this is going to be a d deployment into the arab states of the USAF, which is going to stay there for a long time. To protect democracy (and hypocracy, read "oil interests"). But thats just me...

[Le Addeur noir]

The consequences of the cutbacks on Defense are visible already. The thing is, you have to take many scenario's into account and not assume that the Afghanistan mission will be a blueprint for future warfare...

You are dead on the money,there.

The RAF Hercs,under current plans will be gone in 10 years time.

HMS Cumberland,which evacuated many refugees from Benghazi was on the way back to the UK to be scrapped.

This is what happens when defence reviews are run by accountants.

One of the statements in the SDSR was that there would be no conflict in time period x-y in a 24 month time frame later in the decade.As noboby can predict the future with any degree of accuracy,statements of this nature are total bunkum and not worth the bandwith they consume.

How many anaylists predicted the so-called Arab spring last year?.

[K-9]

On the other hand. Why should "we" always move to other country's? With all respect, but the middle east has been troubled for as long as i know.
And this will remain so for a long time....
No need to station US / NATO troops with all possible loss of lives etc.
If foreign people are in danger, get them the hell out, via a joint operation or so.

The persons that decide all these cuts need to be made. Will do this, using more than just a wet finger... I guess.

[SquAdmin]

On the other hand. Why should "we" always move to other country's? With all respect, but the middle east has been troubled for as long as i know.

Well, first of all Libya is not in the Middle-East but very close to Western Europe. Second, for some reason there are people who believe it's not nice if unarmed civilians are being bombed by jets. We could of course look the other way and imagine how bad it would be if it happened to us...

I'm not saying we should invade Libya, but I never really understand why we should look the other way if things like this are happening.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

It would be good to for once not wait until hundreds more people are murdered for their dreams of freedom, just because we're afgraid of public opinion. Here the people or Libya can only bring knives to a gunfight. So if Europe can assist by waving their guns to even the odds, I can assure you this will prevent a lot more trouble on our shores in the future.

[aviodromefriend]

Here the people or Libya can only bring knives to a gunfight.

According to the Dutch radio today, the anti-Khadaffi people have the same kind of weapons as the pro-Khadaffis. (They have the weapons that were at the places which they control now).

[jp 74]

Maybe the Raf can rush the Harrier back into service......