French forces have fired or dropped 4 600 bombs, missiles and artillery shells against Libyan targets since taking part in military operations against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime seven months ago.
At a hearing before the National Assembly on October 4, French secretary of defence and veterans affairs Gerard Longuet said French forces have fired 4 621 munitions between March and September 30. The figure includes 240 air-launched missiles, comprising 15 SCALP cruise missiles and 225 GPS-guided Hammer (AASM) munitions. Each SCALP missile costs 626 000 euroes, according to the La Tribune.
In addition, more than 900 different bombs had been dropped, including GBU-12, GBU-24 and GBU-49 bombs. Gazelle and Tigre helicopters launched 431 HOT anti-tank missiles and fired unspecified numbers of cannon rounds.
Longuet said that the conflict has not depleted France’s ammunition stocks but that the country urgently needs a large quantity of ammunition.
French Navy ships have fired 3 000 rounds of 76 mm and 100 mm ammunition at targets along the Libyan coast, La Tribune reports. France has contributed a dozen warships to Operation Harmattan, France’s contribution to NATO’s Operation Unified Protector.
At the hearing last week Admiral Edouard Guillaud said French ships had successfully attacked targets against land, something which had not been done for decades, destroying moving vehicles and other targets.
France also sent more than 40 fixed wing aircraft and 20 helicopters to Libya. The nation has spearheaded the NATO-led campaign in Libya and symbolically launched the first air strikes against troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in March.
According to Longuet’s testimimony last week, between March 19 and September 30, French Navy and Air Force aircraft carried out 4 500 missions and accumulated 20 000 flight hours over Libya, amounting to around a third of coalition flights. Meanwhile, Army Aviation helicopters had carried out 90% of coalition helicopter air strikes, the remaining being made by British Army Apaches aboard the HMS Ocean.
By the end of August, French forces had attacked 2 500 military targets, including 850 logistics centres, 170 command and control facilities, 480 tanks, 250 vehicles and 160 pieces of artillery, according to Le Point.
Between September 30 and October 6, the French Air Force carried out 140 attacks against Libya, including 86 missions by Rafale, Mirage 2000 and Mirage F1 aircraft. Helicopters aboard the Tonerre flew eight missions. Twenty military vehicles, four buildings and a radar site were destroyed.
France’s Libya operation is estimated to have cost between 330 and 350 million euros up to September 30, but could cost 430 million euros if operations continue to December 31. Nevertheless, France remains committed to operations and will remain in theatre until fighting on the ground ceases.
