Operation Odyssey Dawn News Photos Gallery updated

Added another 10 news photos to the Operation Odyssey Dawn Photo Gallery.

Charles de Gaulle sets sail for action over Libya

The French Navy has deployed it's sole aircraft carrier, the FNS Charles de Gaulle to support the air campaign over Libya. The carrier's air wing comprises of 20 aircraft, mostly Rafales and Super Etendards, as well as helicopters and two E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft.

Qatar sending Mirage 2000s to enforce Libya no-fly zone

A French Ministry of Defence spokesman has said that Qatar is to send four Mirage 2000 fighter jets to contribute to operations enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya. The Qatari Mirages would fly to France and operate out of a French airbase in Corsica.

USAF, Navy and Marine warplanes hit Libyan targets

U.S. Africa Command has said that 19 American aircraft have conducted strike operations in Libya on Sunday morning. The warplanes included USMC Harriers from the USS Kearsarge, land-based US Navy EA-18G Growlers, USAF B-2 bombers, F-15s and F-16s. It is the next phase in the operation that started Saturday with the launch of more than 110 Tomahawk Cruise missiles from American Navy and British warships and submarines.

Links:
US Navy News Release
US Air Force News Release

RAF strikes Libya from Marham, longest mission since Falklands

In the RAF's longest mission since the Black Buck missions flown by its Avro Vulcans during the 1982 Falklands conflict, Tornadoes from RAF Marham have struck a target, said to be part of Libya's Integrated Air Defence System near Tripoli by flying a 3000-mile mission. The operation was supported by VC10 and Tristar tankers as well as E-3D Sentry and Sentinel surveillance aircraft.

Armee de l'Air draws first blood over Libya

Late Saturday evening, the Armee de l'Air (French Air Force) became the first coalition air force to drop live weapons in enforcement of the Libyan no-fly zone when its Mirage 2000s dropped precision guided weapons on tanks of the Libyan government threatening rebel-held Benghazi. According to the French, Rafales also flew reconnaissance missions and CAP over Libya.

Photo Gallery: Aircraft involved in Operation Odyssey Dawn

I have created a Photo Gallery for news photos, gathered from various news sources, of aircraft involved in the continuing enforcement of the no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians caught up in the fighting, as set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. Known variously as Operation Odyssey Dawn (United States), Operation Harmattan (France), Ellamy (United Kingdom) and Operation Mobile (Canada), attacks started at about 1700GMT on the 19th of March when the French Air Force bombed regime positions near Benghazi.

This Gallery will be updated as new photos emerge in the following days, so do check back often.

MiG-23 shot down over Benghazi (with photos)

AFP Photo

UPDATE: The rebels in Libya have acknowledged that the MiG-23 shot down over Benghazi belonged to rebel forces, and was downed by pro-Gaddafi forces.

Various news outlets are showing photos and video of a MiG-23 crashing in flames over Benghazi after being shot down. Reuters has reported that the aircraft circled Benghazi for a while before carrying out what appeared to be an attack run when it was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Photos show the stricken Soviet-era jet on fire in the upper-mid fuselage area, with the pilot seen to eject just before the aircraft impacted the ground, with his current fate unknown. There are conflicting reports as to who owns the aircraft and who shot it down, with both pro- and anti-Gaddafi forces known to have MiG-23s in their respective inventories.

Assuming the jet belongs to the Gaddafi regime, this and other reports of continued fighting around Benghazi flies in the face of claims by the regime that it has declared a unilateral ceasefire after the United Nations Security Council had adopted a resolution yesterday proclaiming a no-fly zone in Libya to protect civilians.

Meanwhile Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 Hornets, with support aircraft, have been seen at Prestwick Airport just outside of Glasgow, Scotland with various supporting aircraft. Canada has pledged Hornets to support the Libyan No-Fly Zone.

More photos of the MiG shootdown over Benghazi:

Source: Unknown


AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus


Photo by Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images


Source: Unknown


Photo by Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images

UN approves Libyan no-fly zone

With 10 votes for and 5 abstentions, the United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution authorising a no-fly zone around Libya and has surprisingly (to me) included in the resolution, what seems to be relatively liberal Rules of Engagement for enforcement of the zone.

Link to the full text of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973

Free Libyan AF reportedly sinks Gaddafi regime ships

Rebels capture a Libyan AF Hind attack helicopter. (Souce: Unknown)

An opposition Libyan news website has reported that Libyan rebels flying a MiG-23 and a helicopter sank two pro-Gaddafi warships near the town of Adjabiyah. The rebels captured a number of aircraft and helicopters at Benina airfield early in the rebellion, and have been seen repainted in the markings of the rebels.

Danish government commits F-16s for proposed Libya NFZ

The Danish foreign minister has said that the Royal Danish Air Force will contribute four F-16 fighter jets to take part in an internationally-backed no-fly zone over Libya if the UN Security Council approves the move.

Syrian pilots flying for Gaddafi's forces: opposition

Syrian opposition sources have said that Syrian pilots are flying combat missions for Libya's pro-Gaddafi forces, attacking rebels in the ongoing revolt. The reports have also claimed that one of the pilots killed in last week's Libyan Su-24 shootdown was Syrian, and another website has identified the pilot by name.

Libya NFZ do-able, but assets may come from other theaters

Military experts have said that a no-fly zone over Libya is feasible but it would require resources to be deployed from operations elsewhere. While the West has enough fighters for the task, other assets such as tankers and ISR platforms may be in short supply

RAF Typhoons could enforce proposed Libya No-Fly Zone

With a lot of talk of setting up a No-Fly Zone over troubled Libya, defence sources in the United Kingdom have suggested that RAF Typhoons could enforce the No-Fly Zone over Libya from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Two VC10 tankers are already in Cyprus, supporting the extraction of civilians from Libya.

Libyan no-fly zone being mooted; USS Enterprise sails towards Libya

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Britain is working with its allies on a plan to establish a military no-fly zone over Libya to prevent pro-Gaddafi forces from using planes to attack Libyan rebels. Meanwhile the US Navy is repositioning its forces due to the crisis, including moving the carrier USS Enterprise closer to the area.

Bullet hit RAF C-130 pilot's helmet in Libya; rebels apologise

It has emerged that the RAF C-130 hit by small arms fire while evacuating civilians from Libya was hit in the cockpit, including a bullet which struck the helmet of one of the pilots. The C-130 was fired on by anti-Gaddafi rebels, who have since apologised for mistaking the plane as a regime aircraft

RAF C-130 hit by small arms fire while evacuating civilians in Libya

The British Defence Ministry has said that an RAF C-130 evacuating foreign nationals stranded by the unrest in Libya has suffered damage from 'small arms fire'. The aircraft suffered minor damage and there were no injuries.

Photos of military aircraft evacuating civilians from Libya at Malta

Photographers at Malta have been having a smorgasbord of military aircraft movements with several nations evacuating their nationals stranded by the unrest in Libya. Spotter Brendon Attard has been fortunate enough to capture several of the aircraft in the following galleries:

Malta Luqa, 25-26th February 2011

Malta Luqa, 27th February 2011

Spotters badge goes to Tim Robinson for this