# Libya: Turkish Navy frigate attacks LNA drone with missile

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/04/libya-turkish-navy-frigate-attacks-lna-drone-with-missile/
- Published: 2020-04-01T18:55:56+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

In the early hours of today, a Turkish Navy frigate sailing off coast of Sabratha
55 km west of Tripoli, the Libyan capital reportedly fired at least one RIM-66E-
05 Standard surface-to-air missile, supposedly against an Libyan National Army (
LNA) UAV.

The RIM-66 Standard missile apparently missed and landed near al-Ajaylat, just southwest
of Sabratha.

Photographs of the near-intact missile was published online by forces of the LNA.
similarly, the Turkish Navy frigate which launched the missile was also photographed
in the vicinity.

 * ![Libya: Turkish Navy frigate attacks LNA drone with missile](military.africa/
   wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EUg8GXVX0AEzpDC.jpeg)
 * ![Libya: Turkish Navy frigate attacks LNA drone with missile](military.africa/
   wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EUg8GWMXQAA4Pgf.jpeg)
 * ![Libya: Turkish Navy frigate attacks LNA drone with missile](military.africa/
   wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EUg6mTmWAAIoH1v.jpeg)
 * ![Libya: Turkish Navy frigate attacks LNA drone with missile](military.africa/
   wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EUg6mSuXsAEAV8v.jpeg)

The warship in the photograph appears to be a  **G class** (Turkish: _Gabya sınıfı
fırkateyn(ler)_) general purpose guided missile frigate.

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![Libya: Turkish Navy frigate attacks LNA drone with missile](military.africa/wp-
content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_20200401_185125_119.jpg)

The warship in the photograph appears to be a  **G-class** frigate

The **G class** is an extensively modernized versions of ex-Oliver Hazard Perry-
class guided-missile frigates of the US Navy, mainly designed for air defense with
a weapons configuration that is optimized for general warfare.

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Later today, the Turkish Navy released a photograph of the frigate launching the
RIM-66 Standard missile, however, the target of the missile launch was not disclosed.

The **RIM-66 Standard MR** is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM), with 
a secondary role as anti-ship missile, originally developed for the United States
Navy (USN).

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![Libya: Turkish Navy frigate attacks LNA drone with missile](military.africa/wp-
content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_20200401_184902_251.jpg)

Photograph published by the Turkish Navy via Instagram

The Turkish G-class frigates have undergone a major modernization program which 
included the retrofitting of a Turkish digital combat management system named GENESIS(
_Gemi Entegre Savaş İdare Sistemi_).

The first GENESIS upgraded ship was delivered in 2007, and the last delivery is 
scheduled for 2011.

The G class frigate is armed with 1 × Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 × Oto Melara 76mm DP
gun, 8 × Harpoon SSM, 40 × SM-1 MR SAM, 32 × ESSM launched from Mk-41 VLS (4 ESSM
missiles per MK-41 cell through the use of MK25 Quadpack canisters, total of 8 cells).

For anti submarine warfare, 2x triple Mark 32 Anti-submarine warfare torpedo tubes
with Mark 46 or Mark 50 anti-submarine warfare torpedoes.

An 70B Seahawk or AB-212 utility helicopter configured for anti-ship, anti-submarine
and electronic warfare is also usually carried aboard.

This latest altercation indicates a significant escalation in the conflict especially
as the GNA and Turkey increases efforts to achieve air superiority over Tripoli.

In February this year, forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) [attacked](https://www.military.africa/2020/04/libya-turkish-navy-frigate-attacks-lna-drone-with-missile/military.africa/2020/02/libya-lna-attacks-turkish-arms-ship-with-rockets?v=bf7410a9ee72)
a Turkish ship in Tripoli’s Seaport, suspected to be bearing weapons for the Government
of National Accord (GNA). The ships were attacked with surface-to-surface rockets.

Note that earlier on 28 June 2019, the spokesman of the Eastern Libyan forces, Ahmed
Mismari said that Commander Khalifa Haftar will ban any commercial flights from 
Libya to Turkey and that any aircraft or [ship arriving from Turkey attempting to land or berth in the capital Tripoli would be treated as hostile.](https://www.military.africa/2020/04/libya-turkish-navy-frigate-attacks-lna-drone-with-missile/military.africa/2019/06/libya-under-turkish-invasion-haftar-would-target-turkish-ships-and-aircraft)

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