Ghardabiya Airbase

Ghardabiya Airbase Sirte Airport
United States Department of Defense reconnaissance photo of hangars at Ghardabiya
IATA: SRX ICAO: HLGD
Summary
Airport type	Military/Public
Serves	Sirte, Libya
Elevation AMSL	270 ft / 82 m
Coordinates	31°03′38″N 16°36′42″E
Map
SRX Location in Libya
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 31/13 3,600 11,811 Asphalt 18/36 3,600 11,811 Asphalt
Source: GCM[1] SkyVector[2] Google Maps[3]

Ghardabiya Airbase (IATA: SRX, ICAO: HLGD) is a dual-function airbase for the Libyan Air Force 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the Mediterranean coastal city of Sirte.^[4] It also incorporates an airport for civilian use.^[5]

All runways have 305 metres (1,001 ft) displaced thresholds.

The Sirte non-directional beacon (Ident: SRT) is located 7.8 nautical miles (14.4 km) north of the airport, in the city. The Sirte VOR-DME (Ident: SRT) is located on the field.^[6][7]

Military use

It is the home base of 1124th Bomber Squadron and 1st Fighter-Bomber Squadron which operate the Su-22 aircraft.^[8] The base also operates the Aero L-39 Albatros for counterinsurgency missions.

During the first Gulf of Sidra Incident, two Libyan Su-22s took off from this airbase and attacked two U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats.

Civilian use

Due to the First Libyan Civil War of 2011, all flights were suspended; however, since the end of the conflict, Libyan Airlines has resumed service. It is unknown if Air Libya has resumed services as well.

Airlines	Destinations
Libyan Airlines	Tripoli–Mitiga

First Libyan Civil War (2011)

It was targeted by United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers equipped with precision-guided munitions (PGMs) during the First Libyan Civil War on 20 and 21 March 2011.^[9] The United States Navy also participated in the attack to deny the Libyan Air Force operational capability with the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles.^[10][11]

Second Libyan Civil War (2014–2020)

In May 2015, during the Second Libyan Civil War, ISIL militants took control of the airport only weeks after seizing full control of nearby Sirte.^[12] On 4 June 2016, Pro-Libyan government fighters stated that they had captured the airbase from ISIL.^[13]

In January 2020, Libyan forces loyal to the eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar said they had taken control of the strategic coastal city of Sirte, including al-Ghardabiya airbase.^[14]

See also

• Transport in Libya
• List of airports in Libya

References

1. Airport information for Ghardabiya Airbase at Great Circle Mapper.
2. "Sirte/Ghardabya International". SkyVector. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
3. "Gardabya Airport". Google Maps. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
5. Dagher, Sam; Trofimov, Yaroslav; Hodge, Nathan (2011-03-21). "Allies Press Libya Attacks". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
6. "Sirte NDB". Our Airports. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
7. "Sirte VOR". Our Airports. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
8. Pike, John. "Air Order of Battle". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
9. Marcus, Jonathan (2011-03-21). "Who should command in Libya?". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
10. "With Libyan Air Defense Neutralized, Coalition Air Forces Target Libyan Ground Forces | Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News". Archived from the original on 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
11. "Libyan Navy Attacked by Fighter Jets - Updated". www.informationdissemination.net. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
12. "Islamic State militants in Libya 'seize Sirte airport'". bbc.com. BBC News. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
13. "Libyan brigades capture air base from Islamic State south of Sirte:..." U.S. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
14. "Libyan general Khalifa Haftar's forces seize key city of Sirte". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-01-07.

External links

• Accident history for Sert Airport at Aviation Safety Network