On April 18, the Libyan National Army (LNA) shot down a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
In an official statement, the army said the UCAV took off from the Mitiga International Airport, where Turkish forces are known to be stationed. The UCAV was shot down south of the capital, Tripoli.
LNA sources released two videos of the UCAV, which didn’t appear to be armed. The UCAV was likely on a reconnaissance mission or returning from a combat mission, possibly around the town of Tarhunah which was under attack by Turkish-backed forces.
The Bayraktar TB2, introduced by Turkey’s Bayraktar in 2014, has an endurance of 24 hours and an operational range of 150 km. The UCAV can be armed with up to four MAM-L or MAM-C small-diameter laser-guided munitions.
According to Libyan observers, at least 29 Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs have been shot down in Libya since November of 2019.
Update:-
Downed Turkish #Bayraktar #TB2 UAVs over Libyan airspace.
Note
Not counting hit on runway or hangers or other types of UAV.
The Libyan National Army #LNA #Libya
18-April-2020 pic.twitter.com/RKEvWcbHNW— M.LNA (@LNA2019M) April 18, 2020
While the LNA is claiming that these drones are being shot down by its air-defense units, many experts believe that UAE forces are targeting Turkish drones with Russian-made Pantsir-S1 air-defense systems. In mid-2019, the UAE deployed systems of this type in Libya.
“LNA sources released two videos of the UCAV, which didn’t appear to be armed.”
Well, of course not armed when it’s sitting in the back of a pickup truck. Subsequent video shows at least one of the three drones (could be a different one than in the LNA videos) with the usual loadout of MAM-L and MAM-Cs. Hard to believe they would send a TB2 anywhere that close without arming it. Same in Syria – there’s no reason to use an unarmed one limited to reconnaissance just to increase endurance when they’re that close to the battles.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e882d05a9a8436ecf23ab0d725936ab77200cc3e65c76303abd34df04a0d65a1.png
“While the LNA is claiming that these drones are being shot down by its air-defense units, many experts believe that UAE forces are targeting Turkish drones with Russian-made Pantsir-S1 air-defense systems.”
And some non-experts believe “…The UAE has signed a contract with Israel to provide Haftar with an air defense system made by Israeli defense firm. The system has been transferred to Egypt in order to send it to pro-Haftar areas after training some of Haftar forces’ military officers on how to use it…” [link]
The UAE is responding to recent LNA losses by aircraft/drone just like anyone would. The UAE supposedly bought and transferred the Pantsir to the LNA, and now (probably) the more needed and longer-range Iron Dome system. They would buy Chinese if they had to. The only thing for certain is that the U.S. must have demanded that none of the UAE’s Patriots show up in Libya. Not that the UAE has any idea how to run them – they’re all manned by US troops or contractors in the UAE. So the UAE has to buy somewhere else to arm the LNA with any air defenses. Can you imagine the river of tears from U.S. defense contractors cut out of the latest profitable war?
According to M.LNA 22 TB2 drones was downed in the last 2 month 18Feb-18April. https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1251645085902495745/ They also downed an TAI Anka today. https://twitter.com/LNA2019M/status/1251845843172417543 Pantsir-S1 seems effective in Libya.