# Libya: LNA shoots down GNA TB2 Bayraktar UAV

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/02/libya-lna-shoots-down-gna-tb2-bayraktar-uav/
- Published: 2020-02-25T23:00:14+01:00
- Author: Kazim Abdul

The Libyan National Army (LNA) has confirmed today that it has shot down a Turkish-
made TB2 Bayrakter unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to forces of the Government
of National Accord.

According to an LNA military officer who spoke with Military Africa, the TB2 UAV
was brought down using [the newly delivered Pantsir S1 Air Defence missile system](https://www.military.africa/2020/02/libya-lna-shoots-down-gna-tb2-bayraktar-uav/military.africa/2019/06/libya-uae-supplies-pantsir-s1-air-defence-systems-to-lna)
in the south of Tripoli today.

The TB2 Bayrakter UAV was conducting offensive operations in support of the GNA 
before it was targetted by the UAE-delivered Pantsir S1 air defence system.

The UAE[ supplied](https://www.military.africa/2020/02/libya-lna-shoots-down-gna-tb2-bayraktar-uav/military.africa/2019/06/libya-uae-supplies-pantsir-s1-air-defence-systems-to-lna)
the Pantsir S1 air defence system specifically to counter the Turkish-made Bayrakta
TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in which the forces of the GNA have been using
against LNA forces during its recent combat operations Tripoli.

For a long time now, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have provided the LNA with
military equipment, which initially helped General Khalifa Haftar to gain the upper
hand in Libya’s eight-year conflict.

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## Drone Warfare in Libya

Since late last year, [unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) ](https://www.military.africa/2020/02/libya-lna-shoots-down-gna-tb2-bayraktar-uav/military.africa/category/unmanned-systems)
are increasingly being used by both sides, [signaling a new drone war](https://www.military.africa/2020/02/libya-lna-shoots-down-gna-tb2-bayraktar-uav/military.africa/2019/09/drone-war-in-libya-wing-long-ii-versus-bayraktar-tb2)
in the north African country.

On September 24, a [Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial combat vehicle ](https://www.military.africa/2020/02/libya-lna-shoots-down-gna-tb2-bayraktar-uav/military.africa/2019/06/libya-turkish-made-bayraktar-tb2-uav-seen-at-the-gna-held-airbase)
operating from the Mitiga International Airport, under the control of the United
Nations recognized Government of National Accord (GNA); came under attack by UAE-
LNA operated Wing Loong II UCAV.

## TB2 Bayraktar UAV

The TB2 Bayraktar Tactical UAV is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) class 
surveillance and reconnaissance system initially developed for the Turkish Armed
Forces, the UAV Platform has a blended wing body design with its inverse V-Tail 
structure.

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The Bayraktar UAV System has a cruising speed of 70 knots with an operational flight
altitude of 24.000 feet, 24 hours of flight time and a communication range of 150
km and has a 12-m wing span, 650-kg maximum take-off weight and a 55-kg payload 
capacity.

The Bayraktar TB2 employs the MAM and MAM-L ammunitions and UMTAS precision-guided
missiles.

## TB2 Bayraktar in GNA service

The Bayraktar TB2 UAV has repeatedly struck Libya’s strongman Haftar Khalifa’s Al-
Jufra airbase, which is his main operational base. A particular attack, destroyed
two Russian-made Ilyushin 76 military aircraft on the ground.

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The GNA received 12 Bayraktar TB2s in two batches between May and July, 2019 at 
least half of them have been destroyed during UAE-LNA airstrikes using Wing Loong
IIs UCAVs, the second batch delivered in July 2019, was to replace the losses.

A third batch was delivered at the end of August following new losses over the summer.

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