Royal Moroccan Air Force gets first delivery of advanced F-16′s

F-16 Fighting Falcon

Lockheed Martin has delivered its first pair of F-16′s to the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF).

The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) unveiled the first four of 24 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft in a ceremony at Ben Guerrir Air Base in Morocco. Senior representatives from the Moroccan and U.S.governments and air forces were present for the historic event.

This is Morocco’s first experience with the F-16 so the package being provided by the U.S. government is comprehensive. Morocco will acquire a Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft tailored to meet the specific requirements of the RMAF.

The sale includes the aircraft, mission equipment and a support package provided by Lockheed Martin and other U.S. and international contractors. The new aircraft will supplement the RMAF’s existing fleet of fighter aircraft and will contribute to the upgrade and modernization of the RMAF.

“The delivery of these aircraft places Morocco among the very elite group of air forces of the world who operate the advanced multirole F-16,” said Ralph D. Heath, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Aeronautics business area.

The F-16 is the choice of 25 nations. More than 4,400 aircraft have been delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five countries. The F-16 program has been characterized by unprecedented international cooperation among governments, air forces and aerospace industries. Major upgrades to all F-16 versions are being incorporated to keep the fleet modern and fully supportable over the aircraft’s long service life.

The F-16 was designed as a highly maneuvarable, reliable and lower cost alternative to the very expensive and complex but capable F-15 and Mig 29.
Here is a promotional video of the F-16 by Lockheed Martin.

Though this is part of Morocco’s arms build up, it is also strategic. This investment and purchase of US military equipment is a continuation of relations between Morocco and the U.S.. This past June military exercise Africa Lion took place, Morocco participated in the NATO no-fly-zone over Libya and trade is increasing between both sides. The U.S. and Morocco have had a long and historic relationship. The Kingdom of Morocco was among the first outside powers to recognize America as a state. In fact, the 1787 Treaty of Peace and Friendship is the longest-standing U.S. treaty still in force today. Expect good relations between both nations to continue.

NATO extends Libyan Mission against Qaddafi by 90 days

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary-General

NATO said on Wednesday it had extended its Libyan mission for a further 90 days, after Muammar Qadhafi made it clear he would not step down, dashing hopes of a negotiated end to the uprising against his rule.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s top official announced Wednesday that the alliance had agreed to extend its mission in Libya.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary-General, said the agreement to extend the mission for a further 90 days was agreed on by NATO and its partner countries in the operation. “This decision sends a clear message to the Gadhafi regime: We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya,” he said in a statement.

“We will keep up the pressure to see it through,” he said.

The initial decision in March to lead the military operation, following a United Nations resolution aimed at protecting civilians, was for a 90-day period. The decision to extend the mission for a further 90 days from June 27 was made at a meeting Wednesday morning of the alliance’s policy-making body, the North Atlantic Council, together with representatives from non-NATO countries: the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Sweden and Morocco.

Qaddafi will either be removed by force or he flees the country for some place like Venezuela for asylum.  Either way he won’t be ruling Libya in the medium to long term especially that more military hardware is being deployed against him and his forces.

France, Britain to deploy attack helicopters to Libya

Both France and the U.K will send attack helicopters to help fight off Qaddafi’s forces in support of the rebels cause in Libya.

Here is the British Army showing off its Apache helicopter force.

The helicopters, a weapon that has yet to be used by NATO in enforcing the no-fly-zone, will no doubt help strike Qaddafi’s military assets hidden in urban areas while avoiding civilian casualties.  Given that the rebels were under armed, disorganized as a fighting force, and needed close air support when taking on Qaddafi’s forces, this is a welcome addition to their side.  Although it would have made a big difference if they were deployed during the first days when the no-fly-zone was being enforced, it is better late than never.

U.S. to give $25 million to Libyan rebels in support

A Libyan rebel fighter smokes a cigarette next to a multiple rocket launcher in the back of a pickup truck, as the rebels prepare to make an advance, in the desert on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, Libya.

The U.S. dismissing concerns over possible links between Libyan rebels and al Qaeda, will give $25 million to Libyan opposition rebel groups in an effort to help combat and take on  Col. Gadhafi and his forces from power.

The US plans to send $25m worth of non-lethal equipment to the rebel opposition in eastern Libya, in a move likely to further entangle the west in the two-month-old civil war.

The proposal to send surplus Pentagon equipment, including vehicles, medical supplies, protective vests, binoculars and radios, follows Italy’s decision to join Britain and France in sending military advisers to the Libyan opposition and a French pledge to intensify air strikes.

A Libyan rebel fighter manning an anti-aircraft gun flashes the victory sign Wednesday as his vehicle advances towards the front line, on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, Libya.

The Libyan government has warned that such moves will further prolong the conflict and “encourage the other side to be more defiant”.

The US plan, which must be approved by President Barack Obama, is to send “non-lethal assistance” to the Transitional National Council in Benghazi, the de facto opposition government which has not been recognised by Washington. The dispatch of the surplus US stock does not need approval from Congress.

As Natoair strikes were reported to have hit Libyan government targets near Ajdabiya in the east, and south of Tripoli in the west, the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, promised to escalate military action to protect civilians. He told opposition leader Mustafa Abdel-Jalil: “We will intensify the strikes. We will help you.”

Rebel fighters have repeatedly appealed to Nato and the international community to step up its bombardment of Libyan government forces and military targets. Nato insists its air strikes have been effective in reducing Gaddafi’s military capability, but the action has failed to help the rebels advance.

This is a continuation of more recognition by the opposition and rebel forces in Libya by the international community.

France and Italy will send military officers to aid Libyan rebels

French President Nicolas Sarkozy left and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi right

France and Italy will send small teams of military officers to advise Libyan rebels who are seeking to topple Col Muammar Gaddafi.  French officials said fewer than 10 would be sent, while Italy’s defence minister announced that 10 would go.

The despatch of the military advisers underlines the growing concerns in a number of European capitals that the air campaign over Libya is not yielding the expected results. After more than four weeks of air strikes, Libyan government forces have not crumbled; the Libyan regime still seems firmly in control in Tripoli; and the rebels have shown very limited capabilities on the ground.

France for one wants to step up the air campaign, but it is clear that unless the rebels can be turned into a more effective fighting force, and without a genuine ceasefire, Nato air operations may have to continue for the foreseeable future.

The French, British and Italians are all stressing that their small deployments do not constitute “boots on the ground” – they have no intention of deploying combat troops. But some MPs in London fear that this is the thin end of the wedge and that the allies risk being drawn ever deeper into the Libyan conflict.

The officers are expected to advise rebel leaders on how to organize their ragtag forces, now struggling against Gaddafi’s better-armed and -trained army. They will also liaise with NATO on the location of rebels and Gaddafi’s troops.  This comes after the U.K. decided to go ahead and send military adivisers to help coordinate the air strikes against Col Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

Germany’s non role in Libya

Here is a video report about previous post on Germany’s role or lack of one in participating with fellow NATO member countries in enforcing the no fly zone over Libya.

Video: French Mirage 2000 fighter jets in mid-air refuel over Libya

The French military has released video footage of its fighter aircraft re-fuelling over Libya.

Video: Belgian F16 bombing Gaddafi military compound

Belgian F-16 bombing one of Gaddafi’s military compound.

Video: French jets bombing Libya ammunition dump, rebels fire rockets

The French military has released a video it claims shows French fighter jets bombing a Libyan ammunitions depot south of Tripoli on March 28th. The 32 seconds black and white sequence appears to show five explosions as munitions hit their targets, which the French military said were in Gharyan, 100 kilometres south of Tripoli. Meanwhile the U.S. is reportedly sending CIA teams into Libya to gather intelligence and set up links with rebels. It comes as doubts grow about the exact makeup of the movement to oust Colonel Gadaffi. That’s prompted criticism of plans to arm them, with NATO officials themselves admitting they fear that Al-Qaeda fighters are among the rebels.

USS Stout Launches Against Libya

 

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. This was one of approximately 110 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines that targeted about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along LibyaÕs Mediterranean coast. Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeramy Spivey)