RedIndian Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Regarding the Canadian Air Force, some unofficial/unconfirmed info found on other sites: Six CF-18's left CFB Bagotville Quebec yesterday. They indeed flew through Prestwick and are heading for basing in Italy. The Canadian DND is calling the deployment Operation Libeccio comprises six Hornets and about 200 Canadian Forces personnel, including aircrews and ground technicians from 425 (Tactical Fighter) Squadron from 3 Wing and other locations across Canada.No word out of Canada yet as to where they will be based. I am guessing Gioia del Colle. No word either on if Canada will be sending over one or both of its two CC-150 Polaris Tankers (A-310 MRTT). They were deployed yesterday to get the CF-18's across the pond and then returned to CFB Trenton. Word out of Bagotville is that the support crews will be bringing both air to air and air to ground ordnance. The CF-18's have been recently updated and are JDAM/AMRAAM/AIM9-X capable. I would not be surprised if a few C-17 sorties take place soon either bringing in support gear, ground crews and ordnance. The CP-140 Aurora might be useful as well. It has recently gone through a significant avionics upgrade that gives it significant over land surveillance capabilities along with its obvious maritime abilities as a P-3 variant. Source Arrived at Prestwick Intl UK #EGPK Canadian Air Force CFC 3815, CFC3816 both CC-150, 7x Hornets CF-18, 1 P3 and 1 C-17 Source Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tilt Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Sending my best wishes to the brave crews from Canada heading over to this. I hope this situation changes as rapidly as possible, and they'll be returning very soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Scratch one MiG 23..... Flaming plane on the way down.... The UN says NO FLY, and they mean it! Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Scratch one MiG 23.....Flaming plane on the way down.... The UN says NO FLY, and they mean it! Curt By all accounts so far, this plane was NOT shot down by UN forces. No one even seems sure at this point if that MiG was Libyan or flown by the rebels. It's a bit premature to be shouting "splash one!!". Even if we did, we can shoot MiG's down all day long and that is not going to stop a few hundred T-72's from rolling into Benghazi. At least we'll have video feeds from above and can watch real time as the Libyans start hanging the rebels. It may come as a shock to a few of the airpower fan boys on this site but all those cool fighter jets orbiting over Libya will be useless unless they are allowed to go after ground forces. Even then, you still may need to send in some presence on the ground to keep things stable. BTW, what is the end-game here anyway? Are we just going to stop the Libyans at the gates of Benghazi and then have to enforce a perpetual no-fly operation (similar to what we did in Iraq for over a decade), just to protect a small rebel enclave? Seems to me that unless we go after the Libyan government in a big way, this entire adventure is a bit pointless. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Viasistina Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 So where are these RAF assets gonna fly from?...shoulda kept the Ark Royal and Harrier's!.Or maybe get the Aussie's to bring those recently retired F-111's back,a type with great range and weapons...and we know the old whatshisname and his mate's just love the Vark Hmmm...UK belongs to NATO....NATO air bases in southern France, Sicily, Dici, Italy, Spain, Greece.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 BBC tv news here has repeated ( several times ) film of Canadian CF-18's and tankers at Prestwick airport up in Scotland today. Both their late night arrival last night, and preparations for their next flights this afternoon. Regards, Gerard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Qian Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 God speed fly boys!! Stay safe! Return home soon! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) Rafale with RecoNG pods from St Dizier 2 Mirage 2000D from Nancy airbase 2 Mirage 2000 -5 from Dijon ( i heard them taking off) bye Edited March 19, 2011 by rom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quailane Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 By all accounts so far, this plane was NOT shot down by UN forces. No one even seems sure at this point if that MiG was Libyan or flown by the rebels. It's a bit premature to be shouting "splash one!!". Even if we did, we can shoot MiG's down all day long and that is not going to stop a few hundred T-72's from rolling into Benghazi. At least we'll have video feeds from above and can watch real time as the Libyans start hanging the rebels. It may come as a shock to a few of the airpower fan boys on this site but all those cool fighter jets orbiting over Libya will be useless unless they are allowed to go after ground forces. Even then, you still may need to send in some presence on the ground to keep things stable. BTW, what is the end-game here anyway? Are we just going to stop the Libyans at the gates of Benghazi and then have to enforce a perpetual no-fly operation (similar to what we did in Iraq for over a decade), just to protect a small rebel enclave? Seems to me that unless we go after the Libyan government in a big way, this entire adventure is a bit pointless. I was just watching Hillary Clinton's talk today, and she said something along the lines of the US will fully defend Libyan civilians or something like that. Also as of right now, the tanks have stopped in Benghazi, for the moment... Earlier Sarkozy said that French planes are ready to attack tanks. I have a feeling that there is going to be more than just watching quietly from the air. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sean Bratton Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) Sending my best wishes to the brave crews from Canada heading over to this. I hope this situation changes as rapidly as possible, and they'll be returning very soon. Agreed. I'm very impressed with speed at which the managed to get them into the area. Not just the jets but a lot of support assets, tool. Sean Edited March 19, 2011 by Sean Bratton Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Report are that a French a/c fired it's first shot destroying a military vehicle and here's a list of what French assets are involved so far: 4 Rafales armed for CAP launched from St Dizier 2 Rafales doing recon, one equipped with RECO-NG and the other acting as escort 2 Mirage 2000D armed for strike launched from Nancy, joined up with 2 M2000-5F from Dijon 2 Rafales armed for strike (AASM) launched from Dijon 6 flights of KC135FR from Avord 1 E-3F AWACS from Avord Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F-15fan Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) A French Air force Rafale jet has targeted a gound vehicle. The French seem to have regime change as their goal. I suspect all countries involved privately have regime change as their eventual goal.....but they aren't saying that publically. The big hope is that a coup d'etat will happen and thus leading to the end of the regime before too much military action. Supply lines will be cut and the Libyan army will wither without supplies......it's wide open desert country. Edited March 19, 2011 by F-15fan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quailane Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 A French Air force Rafale jet has targeted a gound vehicle. The French seem to have regime change as their goal. I suspect all countries involved privately have regime change as their eventual goal.....but they aren't saying that publically.The big hope is that a coup d'etat will happen and thus leading to the end of the regime before too much military action. Supply lines will be cut and the Libyan army will wither without supplies......it's wide open desert country. Yeah, that is what Sarkozy said during his speech today. Clinton was a lot more cautious, stating that the US was in it to protect civillians, and not to overthrow Getoffme. I need to take a nap or go for a bike ride or something. I pulled an all-nighter glued to the internet and TV about this and the Japan stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f12aaa Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) Al Jazeera reports 4 tanks destroyed out of Benghazi. Edited March 19, 2011 by f12aaa Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Julien (UK) Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 The BBC is reporting the French strike http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12795971 Julien Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stephen Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 The French Navy is sending the Charles De Gaulle to support the operation which should cut down on transit time from France to Libya.In regard to the basing question Italy has said that it will allow aircraft to be based there but will not contribute any aircraft. Sigonella and Trapani in Sicily would be very useful,I haven't heard anything about Greece which could allow Souda Bay to be used which would be very close to the op area. According to the BBC RAF Tornados have been taking off from Lossiemouth and heading south to RAF Marham. I would propose that the Lockheed AC-130 would be one of the most useful assets the USAF could deploy especially if targeting within an urban area. Stephen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cadfael Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 CF units will operate out of Trapani-Birgi, Sicily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Hingtgen Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 For "not contributing aircraft" it seems strange Italy's loading up their Tornados in Sicily with live HARMs: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rapier01 Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 I would propose that the Lockheed AC-130 would be one of the most useful assets the USAF could deploy especially if targeting within an urban area. Not until the air defenses are beaten down... But again, who's paying for this little adventure? Are you guys willing to cut us a check? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SBARC Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 According to the BBC...."the British will be using the Torpedo and Typhoon". The Torpedo must be a new jet I've not heard about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Knight of twin tail Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 According to the BBC...."the British will be using the Torpedo and Typhoon".The Torpedo must be a new jet I've not heard about. Torpedo……what is that T_T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne S Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Sounds like US Navy just launched cruise missiles. On the money deal, If Arab countries are supporting things with out their own military action, I am sure they are funding it in some way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan-Pawel Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 For my part, I prefer to be more reserved about the appropriateness of this intervention. Of course, I don't like Khadaffi. But on the other hand, I remain suspicious about the reasons of the intervention and the reality of the future of Lybia, which will perhaps not be pink (see Afghanistan, Iraq ...). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loki Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) Operation ODYSSEY DAWN **** RAF Typhoon and Tornados now striking Pro Ghaddafi Libyan assets in and around Benghazi. Tornado originating from RAF Lossiemouth. The US Sub fleet and UK warships have also fired 120 Tomahawk Cruise missiles at "Targets" in Tripoli. Canadian F-18's flying from RAF bases in Prestwick. Edited March 19, 2011 by loki Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loki Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) French aircraft (Mirage and Rafale) have destroyed 4 Tanks belonging to pro Ghaddafi forces. UK, Canada, France, Italy and US are the 5 nation coalition. Edited March 19, 2011 by loki Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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