Stealthy American Air Power Over Libya

July 8, 2011: STRATEGY PAGE

Although NATO took control (from the United States) of the air operations over Libya on March 31st, America continues to supply about a quarter of the sorties flown over Libya. The U.S. admits to this, but points out that nearly all of those sorties are for support (intelligence, electronic warfare, freight, aerial refueling). American aircraft provide most of the aerial refueling. But the U.S. still supplies some combat sorties, about nine a day. About one in six of these combat missions results in bombs being dropped. There are 150-200 NATO/U.S. sorties flown over Libya each day.