Norway Withdraws F-16s from Libya Ops

HELSINKI - Norway has withdrawn its F-16 fighter squadron from NATO's Operation Unified Protector (OUP). The return of the F-16s ends Norway's direct involvement in the operation and the enforcement of NATO's no-fly zone over Libya. 

The Norwegian Air Force's squadron, comprising six F-16s, flew 596 missions, almost 10 percent of the total by NATO-aligned aircraft, since March. The aircraft dropped 542 bombs and logged about 2,000 hours of flight time over the four-month period, according to Norwegian Ministry of Defense figures. 

The number of missions flown by the aircraft declined in June when two F-16s were recalled to Norway from Souda Airbase in Crete. Britain compensated for the partial withdrawal, sending an extra four Panavia Tornado GR.4 ground-attack jets to replace the F-16s.

By contrast, Denmark's F-16 fighter squadron, which joined the operation in early April, dropped some 705 bombs, including seven precision bombs, on Libya, according to the latest data from the Danish Ministry of Defense. 

In recent weeks, six Danish Air Force F-16s have been engaged in bombing missions on targets located between Zlitan and the Libyan capital Tripoli. Targets have included military depots and support facilities. 

The Libyan mission cost the Danes up to $16 million a month, a figure that excludes capital outlay to replace precision missiles, bombs and other munitions. The Danes' core arsenal includes GBU-49 type 500-pound bombs and 1-ton bunker killer BLU-109 warheads.

The Zlitan area, which lies 160 kilometers east of Tripoli, has seen increased fighting between rebel groups and forces loyal to the Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi, in recent weeks.

 Source: defensenews.com

Gripen passes 160 000 flight hours during mission over Libya

Saab Gripen Multi Role fighters are now flying with great success in five different air forces around the world. Integration of new weapons and capabilities are ongoing and the demonstrator for the future Gripen NG has been flying with new avionics and displays since May 19.

Gripen is also now operational in Thailand following delivery to the Royal Thai Air Force in February of the first six aircraft, out of a total requirement of twelve. Thailand now formally joins Sweden, South Africa, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the UK based Empire Test Pilot School as a Gripen user.

Another first is the Swedish participation in the NATO led operation ‘Unified Protector’ over Libya. Since April 2 eight Gripen fighters, based at the Sigonella air base in Sicily, are flying daily reconnaissance and air supremacy missions. So far more than 300 recce missions have produced over 80 000 photos.

Among the upgrades of the existing Gripen C/D fleet, two new weapons are being integrated. In May Denel Dynamics, South Africa, completed the integration of the A-Darter fifth generation air-to-air missile on Gripen. While at the Vidsel test range in Sweden Saab is integrating Small Diameter Bombs on the Swedish Air Force Gripen.

On May 19 the Gripen NG demonstrator aircraft flew with new avionics for the first time. At this stage of flight testing, after almost 200 flights, an open system architecture avionics system that separate flight critical from mission critical functionality is integrated in the aircraft. Also integrated are new Tactical Mission Computers, Ethernet networks and new Rockwell Collins displays.

Source Gripen International

Canada Prefers Accuracy Over Economy In Libya

Canada has ordered another 1,300 Paveway laser guided bombs. This order was apparently triggered by the large number of bombs used during current operations in Libya. There, Canadian CF-18 fighter-bombers have flown over 300 sorties, which could have resulted in the use many Paveways. In practice, the -1CF8s have probably used less than 500 smart bombs so far. The Libyan troops loyal to dictator Moamar Kaddafi have quickly learned how not to appear as a likely target to jets overhead. So NATO fighter-bombers often come back with the four or more smart bombs they went out with

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 Canada prefers to use the more accurate (hits within one meter/3.1 feet) JDAM laser guided bomb, even though it is three times as expensive (about $100,000 each) than the GPS guided JDAM (hits within ten meters/31 feet). The greater accuracy means less risk of missing the target, or causing harm to nearby civilians or friendly troops. 

From http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20110525.aspx