US crew rescued after Libya crash

The summit on Libya in Paris Western and Arab leaders met in Paris to agree how to enforce the UN resolution

A joint operation to enforce a UN-backed no-fly zone over Libya has begun - aimed at protecting Libyan civilians from government forces.

France, in diplomatic terms, has been one of the main promoters of UN Security Council resolution 1973 allowing the use of force. French aircraft were the first to operate over Libya ensuring, according to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, that Libyan government aircraft could not operate over Benghazi.

But the US and Britain have also been key players, with a barrage of cruise missiles being launched from US and British surface ships and submarines.

While the US is overseeing the operation, it has said it expects to hand over control to a coalition headed by France, Britain or Nato in a matter of days.

Canada, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Qatar are also offering military support.

Country-by-country involvement

FRANCE
Key hardware Usual role Capability Libya deployment

Source: Federation of American Scientists, UK Ministry of Defence, Global Security, Air Force Technology, Naval Technology, news agencies

Dassault Rafale fighter jet

Dassault Rafale

A multi-role, twin-engined delta wing aircraft capable of mounting air defence, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions

Crew: One/two

Max speed: Mach 1.8

Weapons: Air-to-ground missile, including Apache and Exocet, air-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles

France has mobilised 20 warplanes - Rafale and Mirage - and they were

the first to operate over Libya. They were used to strike Libyan targets at the weekend

Mirage 2000 fighter jet

Mirage 2000

Again a multi-role fighter, the descendant of the famous Mirage III of the 1960s

Crew: One/two

Max speed: Mach 2.2

Weapons: built-in twin Defa 554 30mm revolver-type cannons. Air-to-air missiles

Mirage 2000 jets are also in action in Libya

Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier

Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier

Flagship of the French navy, the nuclear-powered 38,000-tonne carrier can deploy 40 combat planes and conduct 100 air missions a day

Crew: 1,150 ship's crew, 550 aircrew, 50 air support staff

Max speed: 27 knots (50 km/h)

Weapons: Aster 15 missiles, Mistral missiles, Nexter 20mm guns

The carrier was deployed to the region from Toulon, accompanied by the anti-submarine frigate Dupleix, the Aconit frigate and a refuelling ship, La Meuse

UNITED STATES

Key hardware

Usual role

Capability

Libya deployment

B-2 stealth bomber

B-2 stealth bomber

A long-range, multi-role heavy bomber capable of staying airborne for many hours. Its shape is part of its stealth design to minimise its appearance on enemy radar

Crew: Two

Max speed: High subsonic

Weapons: Capacity to carry up to 40,000lb of weapons, including conventional and nuclear weapons, precision-guided munitions, gravity bombs and maritime weapons

The bombers took part in a series of dawn raids - some of the first strikes on Libya over the weekend

US F16

F-16

The F-16 "Fighting Falcon" is a compact, multi-role jet

Crew: One

Max speed: Mach 2

Weapons: Capable of deploying a wide range of weapons, including Sidewinder and Maverick missiles, and a range of bombs and rockets

As well as the US, other nations including Norway, Denmark and Italy are sending F-16s to bases in southern Italy

F-15E Strike Eagle, file image

F-15E Strike Eagle

The F-15E is designed for bombing raids behind enemy lines, but can also be used for air support near allied forces

Crew: Two

Max speed: Mach 2.5

Weapons: Capable of firing air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided weapons including Maverick missiles

Operated by the US military from bases in Europe including England

E-3 Sentry (Awacs)

E-3 Sentry (Awacs)

The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system, or Awacs, aircraft

Crew: Flight crew of four plus mission crew of 13-19

Systems: Command and control battle management system for surveillance, target detection, and tracking

Awacs are currently being used by the US as well as Nato, the UK and France in Libya

RC-135

RC-135

The RC-135 is a reconnaissance aircraft, based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska

Crew: Flight crew of five (three pilots, two navigators) plus mission flight crew of 21-27

Systems: Sensor suite for reconnaissance and communications

Aviation expert Paul Eden says the aircraft will be in Libya "sniffing for electromagnetic emissions from air defence radars"

USS Mount Whitney

USS Mount Whitney

A sophisticated command, control, communications, computer and intelligence ship

Crew: Ship can carry 450 enlisted personnel and officers

Max speed: 23 knots

Weapons: Armed with two 20mm weapons systems, rockets, 25mm chain guns and .50-caliber machine guns

Currently in the Mediterranean, it is acting as the main command ship for the joint operation in Libya

USS Providence

USS Providence, Scranton and Florida

Nuclear attack submarines

USS Providence

Crew: Four officers and 115 enlisted men

Max speed: Surfaced - 20 knots; Submerged - 20+ knots

Weapons: The submarine class features a potent weapons array, including the Tomahawk missile

A barrage of cruise missiles

was fired at Libyan targets from USS Providence, Scranton and Florida as well as from destroyers USS Stout and USS Barry

US tomahawk missile

Tomahawk missile

Long-range weapon designed to hit strategic targets with minimum collateral damage

Warhead: Able to deliver a 1,000lb (450kg) warhead Range: About 1,000 miles (1,600km)

US and British warships and submarines launched Tomahawk missiles over the weekend

UK

Key hardware

Usual role

Capability

Libya deployment

British Typhoon Eurofighter

Typhoon - Eurofighter

The RAF's Typhoon, or Eurofighter, is an agile aircraft which can be used in air-to-air combat

Crew: One

Max speed: Mach 2

Weapons: Air-to-air missiles, Brimstone, Enhanced Paveway, Paveway IV

Ten Typhoons are in place in the southern Italian air base of Gioia del Colle. They have been patrolling the no-fly zone

Tornado

Tornado

The Tornado GR4 is mainly used as a strike or attack aircraft

Crew: Two

Max speed: Mach 1.3

Weapons: Storm Shadow, Brimstone, ALARM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, Paveway II, Paveway III, Enhanced Paveway, General Purpose Bombs, Mauser 27mm cannon

British Tornados, flying from RAF Marham in Norfolk, have carried out bombing missions on targets around Tripoli. Four are now in Gioia del Colle in southern Italy

RAF Nimrod

Nimrod

Nimrod R1 reconnaissance aircraft are used for surveillance operations. It can sit over an area, flying at low speeds for long periods - which can be extended by mid-air refuelling

Crew: 29

Max speed: 360 knots

The reconnaissance aircraft are involved in surveillance operations in Libya

Sentinel

Sentinel

The reconnaissance aircraft are fitted with radar and monitoring systems which can be used to track and target enemy ground forces. They are scheduled to be scrapped after the UK withdraws its forces from Afghanistan

Crew: Five

Max speed: Mach 0.89

Systems: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI)

The Sentinel is being used for reconnaissance in Libya

Storm Shadow missile

Storm Shadow

Deployed from Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft, the Storm Shadow is a conventionally armed cruise missile

Warhead: Armed with conventional explosive warhead

Range: Can be launched 155 miles (250km) from its target

The British government has confirmed the RAF dropped Storm Shadow missiles from Tornado jets over the weekend

British C-130

Logistical support: C-130 and C-17

Transport aircraft, used to move personnel and equipment

C-130 Hercules

Aircrew: Six

Max speed: 310 knots

C-17 Globemaster

Aircrew: Three

Max speed: 550 knots

The aircraft are being used to deliver UK personnel, equipment and stores to the various operating bases in the Mediterranean

HMS Cumberland

HMS Cumberland and HMS Westminster

Royal Navy frigates, Type 22 and 23

Max speed: 28-30 knots

Weapons: 114mm MK 8 gun Goalkeeper close-in weapons system, Sea Wolf anti-missile system, Quad Harpoon missile launchers, close-range guns Nato Seagnat decoy launchers

HMS Cumberland and HMS Westminster are in the region ready to support operations, the British government has said

HMS Triumph

HMS Triumph

One of the UK's Trafalgar class nuclear submarines, HMS Triumph finished a five year upgrade in 2009 and was originally commissioned in 1991

Weapons: Tomahawk cruise missiles and Spearfish torpedoes mean this sub can launch air strikes and attack ships on the sea's surface

Has fired its cruise missiles at the start of the coalition's action to enforce the UN backed no-fly zone

CANADA

Key hardware

Usual role

Capability

Libya deployment

Canadian CF-18

CF-18 Hornet

The Canadian Armed Forces' front-line multi-role fighter, a version of the US F-18 Hornet, is used for air superiority and tactical support

Crew: One/two

Max speed: Mach 1.7

Weapons: Vulcan cannon, Sniper pod, four AIM-9M Sidewinders - supersonic, heat-seeking air-to-air missiles

Canada has committed six Hornets to help enforce the no-fly zone. The Canadian jets are based in Sicily.

ITALY, DENMARK, BELGIUM

Key hardware

Usual role

Capability

Libya deployment

Italian F-16

F-16

A multi-role fighter aircraft

As above

Italy has offered four F-16s; Denmark six; and Belgium six

SPAIN

Key hardware

Usual role

Capability

Libya deployment

Spanish F-18

F-18

Used as an interceptor and as an all-weather attack aircraft

As above

Spain has deployed four F-18 fighter planes. They were in action on Monday

QATAR

Key hardware

Usual role

Capability

Libya deployment

Mirage

Multi-role fighter - as above

As above

Qatar has offered four Mirage aircraft to join with the French in patrolling the no-fly zone

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