After recent satellite imagery confirmed that Libya Dawn has recently gotten at least one MiG-25 operational, or was in the progress of making it operational, a picture of the aircraft in question has now finally surfaced. In addition to this, satellite imagery confirms that Libya Dawn is working on making at least three other MiG-25s operational at Misrata. While previous analysis predicted Libya Dawn was likely to pick one of the ubiquitous MiG-25RB(T) or MiG-25PD(S) aircraft, the former of which can be equipped with multiple ejector racks (MERs) for carrying up to eight FAB-500Ts and the latter of which can carry R-40 and R-60 air-to-air missiles (AAMs), it now appears they instead went for one MiG-25PU twin-seat conversion trainer for the MiG-25PD(S).
The MiG-25PU by design has no radar or combat capabilities, and therefore seems like an odd choice for Libya Dawn's engineers to say the least. However, as the MiG-25PU's intended role is to prepare pilots to fly the MiG-25PD(S), it features two seats instead of one (one for the pilot and one for the instructor), resulting in an additional pair of eyes in the sky. It is also likely that the twin-seat conversion trainers are generally found in the best condition, and have flown the least number of flight hours of all MiG-25 variants formerly in Libyan service. The new twin-seater aircraft will not be the only trainer variant of their tiny fleet, which also features at least two Soko G-2 Galebs and several L-39s and is soon to be enlarged with one MiG-23UB and two Soko G-2 Galebs, all of which are twin-seater aircraft.
The newly overhauled aircraft seems to have only one pylon on each side (despite being originally outfittedwith two), carrying just a single FAB-500T for a total of two of the 500kg general purpose bombs, limiting the operational capabilities of the aircraft. However, the main problem it may face during bombing runs arises from the terrible accuracy usually associated with MiG-25 bombers, which was partially countered for MiG-25RBs outfitted for bombing runs by linking the navigation system with a bombing computer (also, as the MiG-25RB was originally supposed to deliver nuclear weapons only, accuracy wasn't of too great importance).
Satellite imagery of Misrata airbase, previously showing just one MiG-25 on the 31th of January 2015, now depicts no less than three MiG-25s on the 28th of February 2015. All the aircraft are believed to have been taken from al-Jufra, which housed the largest amount of MiG-25s when the type was still in active service. When the MiG-25's career in Libya ended in the 2003-2004 timeframe, most of the airframes remained stored in good conditionin their Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS), and were thus well protected against the relentless sun.
The aircraft formerly seen at Misrata was believed to have switched bases and was seen on the 24th of February at Mitiga. It was again seen on the 25th of March 2015 along with another example. This particular example is likely placed here as a decoy, and was previously seen stored on another part of the airbase.
The overhaul of these aircraft is conducted by a team of foreign experts and local mechanics, but with an increased amount of MiG-25s becoming operational, Libya Dawn might have to rely on more foreign expertise to keep the fleet of aircraft running. Although Libya Dawn can count on a number of former Libyan MiG-25 mechanics and pilots, it is unknown if it can continue to find enough pilots to fly the MiG-25s.
As was mentioned in the first article on the subject, the nationality of the foreign experts cannot be confirmed. However, the sudden presence of a number of Ukrainians at Mitiga and Misrata makes it highly likely they are the ones responsible for the sudden appearance of operational MiG-25s
With little other types available, reintroducing MiG-25s to the Libyan theatre will have to make do for Libya Dawn, and will surely provide them with an extremely powerful aircraft, albeit with severely limited accuracy. Thanks to the aid of Ukrainian personnel and financial funding from some of Libya Dawn's international supporters, more MiG-25s will surely roar through North Africa's skies once again.
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