Libyan National Army

The Libyan National Army is the military of Libya, though due to the aftermath of the 2011 Libyan civil war, the organisation is in a state of transition. It consists of the Libyan Ground Forces, Libyan Air Force and the Libyan Navy. As of early 2012, the armed forces primarily consist of elements of the former national army and certain former anti-Gaddafi militias that have accepted the authority of the Libyan government over military matters. Throughout much of Libya, including the capital Tripoli, the Libyan National Army contend for primacy with a number of regionally based militias, with uneasy cooperation occasionally giving way to armed clashes.
Combat equipment
Ground Forces
The Libyan ground forces have a large amount of mostly Soviet equipment in service. These numbers do not take into account equipment destroyed or captured during the 2011 Libyan civil war.
The IISS estimated tank numbers in 2009 as 2,025:
* 155mm - ? M114 155 mm howitzer
830 Multiple rocket launchers were reported:
* 107mm Type-63 - an estimated 300;
* 122mm - 530: ε200 BM-11; ε230 BM-21 Grad; ε100 RM-70 Dana (RM-70 multiple rocket launcher?).
* 160mm - ε24 M-160.
Surface to Surface Missiles reported in service include FROG-7 and SCUD-B, (416 missiles).
Anti Tank missiles reported in service include 400 French/German MILAN, and 620+ AT-3, AT-4, and AT-5, all of Soviet manufacture.
In 2009 the IISS estimated that Libya had Crotale, SA-7 Grail, SA-9/SA-13 surface to air missiles, and AA guns in Army service. A separate Air Defence Command has SA-2, SA-3, SA-5 Gammon, and SA-8b Gecko, plus guns.
Reported anti aircraft artillery includes Soviet 57 mm S-60, 23 mm self-propelled ZSU-23-4 and ZU-23-2, Czech M53/59 Praga, and Swedish Bofors 40mm guns.
Small arms reported in service include TT pistol, Browning Hi-Power, Beretta M12, FN P90, FN FAL, SKS, AK-47, AKM and AK-103 assault rifles, the FN F2000, Soviet RPD machine gun, RPK machine gun, PK machine guns, DShK heavy machine gun, KPV heavy machine guns, SG-43 Goryunov, and a number of RPG type and anti-aircraft missile systems: RPG-2, RPG-7, 9K32 Strela-2.
Air Force
The Libyan Air Force was created after the US and UK pressured then-ruling King Idris to modernise his armed forces so that they could better stand off against revolutionary regimes in the Middle East. The LAF was created in 1963. The Libyan Air Force had an estimated personnel strength of 22,000 in 2005. There are 13 military airbases in Libya.
After US forces had left Libya in 1970, Wheelus Air Base, a previous US facility about seven miles from Tripoli, became a Libyan Air Force installation and was renamed Okba Ben Nafi Air Base. OBN AB housed the LPAF's headquarters and a large share of its major training facilities.
All combat aircraft of the Libyan air force that were not in the rebel forces hands were destroyed by NATO bombing during the civil war, effectively leading to the destruction of the Libyan air force.
Aircraft
*Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 - 130
*Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 - 68
*Sukhoi Su-22 - 90; The Libyan Air Force operated as many as 90 Su-22, with around 40 Su-22M3 and Su-22UM3K aircraft currently in service.
*Soko G-2 Galeb- 116;(G2A-E version)
*Dassault Mirage III- 8
Combat Aircrafts May 2011 issue included an article covering the air elements of the 2011 Libyan civil war.
 
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