As of 2026, the Libyan aerial and air defense landscape remains profoundly fragmented between rival political entities: the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and the eastern-based Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) under General Khalifa Haftar. Data represents the de facto situation of these separate commands.

Personnel: ε4,000 (Total fragmented air force elements). Status: Fragmented / Operational (Engaged in territorial management). Strategy: Internal stabilization, border surveillance, and maintaining a militarized balance amidst ongoing political stalemate.

• AIRCRAFT ε45 combat capable (Combined Total).

Fighter / Interceptor:

• 12 Mikoyan MiG-21 (GNU aligned).
• 3 Mikoyan MiG-23 (GNU aligned).
• 2 Mikoyan MiG-25 (Libya Dawn / Tripoli aligned; status questionable).
• 1 Mikoyan MiG-29 (LAAF aligned; some units associated with Wagner Group transferred to LAAF control).
• 2 Dassault Mirage F1 (GNU aligned).

Fighter / Ground Attack:

• 2 Sukhoi Su-24 (GNU aligned).
• 1 Sukhoi Su-22 (GNU aligned).
• 2 Sukhoi Su-24 (LAAF aligned; reported).

Tactical & Strategic Transport:

• 6 Ilyushin Il-76 (1 GNU, 5 LAAF).
• 2 Lockheed C-130H Hercules (1 GNU, 1 Libya Dawn).
• 3 Antonov An-12 (LAAF aligned).
• 3 Antonov An-26 / An-32 (LAAF aligned).
• 1 Antonov An-72 (GNU aligned).
• 2 Il-18 (LAAF aligned).
• 1 Pilatus PC-6 (GNU aligned).

Training & Light Attack (Fixed-wing):

• 37 SIAI-Marchetti SF-260ML (GNU aligned).
• 21 Aero L-39 Albatros (20 GNU, 1 LAAF).
• 11 SOKO G-2 Galeb (GNU aligned).
• 1 SOKO J-21 Jastreb (GNU aligned).

• HELICOPTER ε35 active airframes.

Attack & Maritime (Helicopter):

• 7 Mil Mi-24 / Mi-35 (Hind) (GNU aligned).
• 3 Mil Mi-14 (GNU aligned).

Multi-role & Tactical Transport (Helicopter):

• 9 Mil Mi-8 / Mi-171 (Hip) (8 GNU, 1 LAAF).
• 8 Aerospatiale SA341 / SA342 Gazelle (LAAF aligned; some GNU).
• 3 Airbus H215 / AS332 Super Puma (LAAF aligned).
• 2 Boeing CH-47C Chinook (GNU aligned).
• 1 AgustaWestland AW139 (GNU aligned).
• 7 Mil Mi-2 (Hoplite) (GNU aligned).

• UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS)

Combat ISR (Medium & Heavy):

• Baykar Bayraktar TB2 (GNU aligned; supported by Turkish activities).
• Chengdu Wing Loong II (LAAF aligned; supported by regional sponsors).

• AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS (GROUND-BASED)

Point-defence Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM):

• 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko) (LAAF aligned).
• QW-18 (CH-SA-11) (GNU aligned).
• 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail) (Regional militias).

Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Guns):

• 23mm ZU-23-2 (Fragmented; frequently truck-mounted).
• 14.5mm ZPU-2 (Fragmented; truck-mounted).
• (Integrated Support: Turkish units in western Libya operate MIM-23B Hawk, Korkut, and GDF-003 systems).

Strategic Note: By 2026, the Libyan Air Force remains a symbol of the country’s deep political divisions. Sovereign institutions face a high risk of continued functional fragmentation, with the geostrategy defined by a "militarized balance" rather than a unified political settlement. The Wagner Group maintains a significant presence at LAAF-controlled air bases, while Turkey provides extensive advisory and technical support to GNU-aligned forces in the west. Heavy use of aging Soviet-era assets and the lack of a domestic defense industry have likely reduced overall operational readiness to approximately 30–40% of the total theoretical inventory. Most air operations are currently focused on territorial control and monitoring critical oil infrastructure in the Mediterranean and southern Sahelian regions.

2011 LIBYAN AIR FORCE 

Air Force 18,000 Flying hours 85 hrs/year (many non-operational, many ac in store)

AIRCRAFT 580 combat capable
BBR 6: 1 sqn with 6 Tu-22B Blinder-A (storage)
FTR 200: 9+ sqn with 15 Mirage F-1ED; 65 MiG-25P / MiG-25PB / MiG-25PDS /MiG-25M Foxbat-A/B/D/E (storage); 70 MiG-23ML/MiG-23MLD / MiG-23MS Flogger-B; 45 MiG-21bis Fishbed-N; MiG-25PU Foxbat*
FGA 134: 7 sqn with 11 Su-24MK Fencer-D; 14 Mirage F-1AD; 40 MiG-23BN Flogger-H; 40 Su-22M-2 Fitter-J; 8 Su-22UM-3K Fitter-G; MiG-23UB Flogger-C*; 16 Soko J-21E Jastreb (Light Ground Attack)
Recce 2 sqn with 30 MiG-25R/RE Foxbat-B/D; Mirage 5DP30*(storage)
TKR 6: 4 Ilyushin Il-78 Midas; 2 KC-130H Hercules
TPT 90+: 7 sqn with 2 Antonov An-124 Condor; 15 Ilyushin IL-76T Candid-C / IL-76TD Candid-D / IL-76MD Candid-B; 1 An-72P Coaler; 2 An-74TK-300D Madcap; 8 An-32P Cline; 18 An-26-100 Curl ; 1 An-24 Coke; 4 An-2 Colt,14 C-130H Hercules; 2 L-100-20 Hercules; 3 L-100-30 Hercules; 1 C-130B Hercules;16 Alenia G-222; 15 Let L-410UVP-E Turbolet; 1 Boeing 707-320;1 Gulfstream II; 2 Dassault Falcon 50; 1 Ilyushin IL-62M
TRG 236: Trg sqns with 1 Tu-22U Blinder-D; 70 Soko G-2E Galeb / G-2A Galeb; 115 Aero L-39ZO Albatros; 15 MiG-23UB Flogger-C*; 3 MiG-25PU Foxbat*; 4 Mirage 5DP30*; 6 Mirage F-1BD*; 4 MiG-25UM Mongol-B ; 20 Aermacchi SF-260WL Warrior, PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
HELICOPTERS hel sqns with
ATK 44: 32 Mi-24DHind-D; 12 Mi-35 Hind-F
SPT 87: 4 CH-47C Chinook (hy); 2 Bell 212 Twin Huey; 35 Mi-17 (Mi-8MT) Hip-H / Mi-8T Hip-C (med); 30 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
UTL 16: 5 AB-206A (Bell 206) Jet Ranger (lt); 11 SA-316 Alouette III (lt)