New images released by the Libyan Air Force provide an interesting glimpse of the current operational assests at Al Watiya airbase, but more importantly, also indicate that the Su-22 reportedly undergoing overhaul is not an Su-22 (S-32MK) as previously thought, but rather a more modern Su-22M instead. The news comes just as it's been confirmed that Libya Dawn now has one MiG-25PU operational, and is in the progress of bringing another three MiG-25s back to operational condition at Misrata.[1][2]
Apart from this particular Su-22, still donning its green Jamahiriya roundel, and Libya Dawn's four MiG-25s, another icon once presumed to have found its final resting place is now being refurbished to fight once more: The Mirage F.1AD, one of which is currently also being restored by the Libyan Air Force at Al Watiya.[3]
The Su-22M, undergoing overhaul in one of Al Watiya's forty-two remaining Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS), is one of the two reportedly being serviced in order to bring them back to operational condition. According to Libyan Air Force personnel present at Al Watiya, the first example was originally destined to fly in mid-February, but it seems that this claim was either overoptimistic, or that new problems arose during the overhaul.
According to Libyan Air Force Colonel Muhammad Abdul Hamid Al-Satni, this Su-22 is one of twelve remaining Su-22s present at Al Watiya.
''We … [inaudible] Su-22 aircraft, they were almost non-functional, but thanks to Libyan military personnel, all Libyans, no foreigners, we have been trying to put one or two of the ten to twelve aircraft back into service. This is the first one we managed to repair and it will be deployed in a week or ten days in the battle to liberate Tripoli.'' (3:44)
The Libyan National Army's push on Tripoli, which remains in the hands of Libya Dawn, is supported by just one MiG-23ML and one MiG-23UB operating out of Al Watiya, which itself was recaptured by the Libyan National Army on the 9th of August 2014. These airframes are currently engaged in a war of attrition with Libya Dawn as both sides continuously bomb each other's airbases and munition depots. Although this hasn't resulted in any air-to-air combat yet, one of Libya Dawn's MiG-23MLs crashed after bombing the airstrip of al-Zintan on the 23th of March 2015, leaving just one MiG-23ML operational. The Libyan Air Force currently has two MiG-23MLs operational: 6472 based at Benina and 6132 based at Al Watiya, the latter can be seen below.
The Libyan Air Force is thus desperately in need of more operational airframes to support the Libyan National Army in its push on Tripoli. The Libyan National Army encountered a huge stock of aircraft after recapturing Al Watiya, including at least one squadron of Su-22s (S-32MK), what was left of the Su-22M fleet, an unknown number of Mirage F.1s and Mi-25s. This airbase therefore provides an excellent source for aircraft, with plenty of aircraft to cannibalise for spare parts.
Al Watiya saw only three of its Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) housing Su-22Ms in addition to several munition depots being destroyed by the NATO-led airstrikes during the Libyan Civil War. Other aircraft present on the base were inoperational and thus not considered a threat to the Libyan people and NATO. The aircraft currently being refurbished is in good hands with the Libyan Air Force's experienced mechanics, however, because of the fact that the airframe has been grounded for over a decade (and even lacks its 30mm cannons and ejection seat), it will surely prove to be a challenge to get it operational.
However, if they manage to pull it off the aircraft will indubitably be of great value during any upcoming offensive to recapture Tripoli. Wether it will be enough to tip the scales and give the LNA operational advantage over its foes only time will tell.