Rare example: the Strela-1 complex is seen near Haftar's forces in Libya

The basis of the air defense of the armed forces of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi was purchased in the USSR anti-aircraft missile systems.

For example, the Ground forces operated the Osa, Kvadrat, and Strela-1 air defense systems.

As it turned out, the last two systems are still used in this country. For example, both Field Marshal Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) and the opposing sides, the Government of National Accord, have" Squares".

It was reported that the LNA fighters using these weapons of destruction in May 2019 managed to destroy a French-made Mirage F. 1 multi-purpose fighter.

Later, a year later, a Czechoslovak L-39 combat training aircraft was shot down, acting as a light attack aircraft.

As for the Strela-1 ,the first deliveries from the Soviet Union began in 1974. These complexes were also equipped with army air defense batteries.

The armored vehicles are made on the chassis of the reconnaissance-patrol BRDM-2 (4x4). The four missiles mounted on them could hit targets at a range of up to 4200 meters and at altitudes (depending on the modification) from 30 meters to 3000-3500 meters. Weight-30.5 kg, including the warhead-3000 gr.

The launcher's own weight is -7000 kg, the crew is -3 people. Engine power-140 hp Maximum speed on the highway - 95 km/h. Power reserve - 750 km.

By the beginning of the civil war, most of the complexes were withdrawn from the troops and sent to storage bases. Now they have begun to restore and return to service. Compared to modern models, their missiles have insufficiently effective homing heads, but if used correctly, they can pose a certain threat to aircraft, helicopters and drones. Earlier it was reported that it was the "Arrow-1" that shot down one of the American MQ-9 Reaper in Yemen.

Alexey Brusilov