June 10, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Assuming that Gaddafi is overthrown, & the interim national council is the basis for the new government, how is it likely to rebuild its air force?
I believe we should take into account –
1) any remaining undamaged (stayed on the ground, defected) or repairable aircraft which could be put back into service
2) who has backed the rebels, & will therefore be in favour with the new regime
3) the scale of anticipated external threats to the new regime (very small, IMO)
4) the priority of defence in spending
I wonder if Qatar might be willing to donate, or sell at a discount, its Mirage 2000s to the new Libyan government. The UAE is another possible source of secondhand Mirage 2000s. Qatar tried to sell its Mirages a few years ago, & the UAE is reported to be seeking a deal for any new supplier to take on its old Mirages.
Refurbished Mirage F1s, both any surviving Libyan examples & any stored or retiring aircraft from other countries that might be available, are a possible interim option. Does Jordan have any left?