Libyan Air Force

Libyan Air Force
القوات الجوية الليبية
Libyan Air Force emblem
Active	1962; 62 years ago (1962)
Country	Libya
Allegiance	Government of National Unity House of Representatives Formerly Government of National Accord
Branch	Libyan Armed Forces
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	4,500 personnel
Headquarters	Tripoli (GNU-backed) Tobruk (HoR-backed)
Equipment	144 aircraft (2020)[1]
Engagements	Egyptian–Libyan War Uganda–Tanzania War Chadian–Libyan War First Libyan Civil War Post-civil war violence in Libya Second Libyan Civil War[2]
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Mohamed al-Menfi
Chief of Staff	Saqr Geroushi (pro-HoR)[3]
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-22, Su-24, TAI Hürkuş
Fighter	MiG-21, MiG-23, Mirage F1
Helicopter	Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-14, AW139, CH-47
Attack helicopter	Mil Mi-24/35
Trainer	Aero L-39 Albatros, Soko G-2 Galeb, SF.260
Transport	C-130 Hercules, L-100 Hercules, An-12, An-26, An-72, Il-76

The Libyan Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية الليبية) is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the Libyan Civil War, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat-capable aircraft^[4] operating from 13 military airbases in Libya.^[5] Since the 2011 civil war and the ongoing conflict, multiple factions fighting in Libya are in possession of military aircraft. As of 2019 the Libyan Air Force is nominally under the control of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli, though the rival Libyan National Army of Marshal Khalifa Haftar also has a significant air force. In 2021, the air force is under command of the new President of Libya, Mohamed al-Menfi that replaced Fayez al-Sarraj.

The air force was established as the Royal Libyan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya) in September 1962 by a decision of the minister of defense Abd al-Nabi Yunis. Lt. Col. al-Hadi Salem al-Husomi was assigned to lead the new force. It was originally equipped with a small number of transports and trainers: Douglas C-47s and Lockheed T-33s. However, F-5 Freedom Fighters were delivered from 1969.^[6] In 1970 it changed its name to the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force.^[7] After US forces left Libya in 1970, Wheelus Air Base, a former US facility about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Tripoli, became a LARAF installation and was renamed Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. The base housed the LARAF's headquarters and a large share of its major training facilities. Starting in 1970, a significant expansion of the air force took place, with a large number of French and later Soviet combat aircraft being purchased.^[8]