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Libya’s GNA forces shoot down UAE’s Wing Loong-II UAV armed with AKD-10 AtG missile in Libya

Burkan Al-Ghadab operation under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA) has confirmed on Facebook that its defense forces have shot down Wing Loong drone – made in China and bought by the UAE – that is used by Khalifa Haftar’s forces in their attacks on Tripoli and other areas.

The operation said on Saturday that the drone, provided by the UAE to Haftar’s forces, was trying to strike Misurata city before it had been shot down and destroyed in Abu Grein area near Misurata.

“Our heroic forces in the southern axis of the central military region successful shot down this morning a Wing Loong UCAV loaded with missiles that the UAE was supporting war criminal Hafar with it … It was trying to attack civilian targets in the vicinity of the city of Misrata,” the operations room of pro-GNA forces said in a short press release.

CAIG’s Wing Loong II has an endurance of around 20 hours and an operational range of up to 4,000km. The UAE was the launch customer for the Chinese UCAV in 2017.

Photos of the UCAV’s wreckage reveal that it was loaded with several J-7 guided missiles. The J-7 is an export version of the semi-active laser guided HJ-10 missile. The missile has a range of up to 7km and a warhead that is capable of penetrating 1,400mm of armour.

Las April, defense analyst Arnaud Delalande published an investigation proving that LJ-7 missiles were used against pro-GNA forces. Back then, several observers speculated that the UAE was behind the airstrikes.

At least two Wing Loong I\II UCAVs of the UAE Air Force (UAEAF) are deployed in the al-Khadim airbase in western Libya, as a satellite image released by IHS Jane’s in 2016 revealed. Despite this, it remains unclear if the drone shot down toady was being operated by the UAE.

UAE-purchased Chinese drone with AKD-10 AtG missile shoot down in Libya by GNA – See Details: https://t.co/NOTbKTw7yd pic.twitter.com/VPgP5hLwYU — Fighter jets World (@FJW_Aviation) August 4, 2019

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.

The oil-rich country has since seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is affiliated, and the Tripoli-based GNA, which enjoys UN recognition.