--- title: "New Intel Indicates Russia May Have Sent S-300 Or S-400 Surface To Air Missiles To Libya" description: "Initial photos from Ras Lanuf and recent transport flights suggest Moscow may have bolstered Haftar's defenses by providing advanced SAM batteries." date: "2020-08-06" modified: "2020-08-06" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick" url: "https://www.twz.com/35460/new-intel-indicates-russia-may-have-sent-s-300-or-s-400-surface-to-air-missiles-to-libya" categories: - "Africa" - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "Land" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "S-300" - "S-400" - "Surface-To-Air Missile Systems" tags: - "An-124" - "GNA" - "Haftar" - "Il-76" - "Libya" - "LNA" - "MIG 29" - "Pantsir" - "russia" - "S-300" - "S-400" - "Su-24" --- # New Intel Indicates Russia May Have Sent S-300 Or S-400 Surface To Air Missiles To Libya ![]() *www.twz.com* Imagery appearing on social media channels seems to show the deployment of a Russian-made surface-to-air missile system — from either the [S-300]() or [S-400]() family — deployed near Ras Lanuf on the Libyan coast. The oil port is controlled by the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Field Marshal [Khalifa Haftar](). Should the presence of these weapons be confirmed, it would mark a new significant escalation in Libya’s civil war and in the involvement of foreign powers backing either side in the conflict. Unconfirmed media reports last month suggested the LNA had deployed the S-300 along the eastern border with Egypt. The veracity of these reports is unclear as Ras Lanuf is nowhere near the border with Egypt. https://twitter.com/_/status/1291071080770277378 However, the reported appearance of the air defense system in Libya does follow a flight by a Russian Aerospace Forces [An-124]() strategic airlifter into Libya’s Al Khadim Air Base on Aug. 3. The transport flew in from Mozdok Air Base in Russia’s Caucasus region, making what is thought to be the type’s first appearance in Libya since Moscow’s stepped up its involvement in the ongoing civil war in support of Haftar’s LNA forces. Before its stopover at Mozdok, the An-124 had departed from Vnukovo in Moscow. The An-124 is typically used to [transport]() bulky equipment, which could include S-300 and S-400 systems and their supporting elements. Il-76 transports — operated both by the Russian military and by contractors — that have been making regular runs to Libya aren’t big enough to handle the larger components of either of the S-300 or S-400. It’s notable that when Turkey received its initial S-400s, Russia delivered components in both An-124s and Il-76s, as *The War Zone* described [here](). ![message-editor%2F1596734006204-s-200inlibya3.jpg]() *Components from the S-400 system are unloaded from an An-124 at Murted Air Base in Turkey, July 2019., *TURKISH MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE** https://twitter.com/_/status/1290387932348645377 Haftar’s LNA — based in the eastern city of Tobruk — has received support from Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, among others. The U.S. government also assesses that Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group are operating in Libya on behalf of Haftar’s forces. Wagner has connections with Russia’s Main Directorate military intelligence agency, also known by the Russian acronym GRU. The LNA’s chief opponent is the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli, the country’s internationally recognized capital. Its primary international backer is presently Turkey. While the photos of the purported SAM site reveal little in the way of detail, it’s been suggested they depict a truck-mounted 96L6 or 96L6E target acquisition radar, which NATO refers to as Cheese Board, together with a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) associated with an S-300 or S-400-series SAM system. The S-400 seems a less likely proposition since it's probable that Moscow would be less willing to commit such an advanced system to the Libyan theater. https://twitter.com/_/status/1291127563025186816 https://twitter.com/_/status/1291137483166691330 If the equipment at Ras Lanuf is as it seems, it marks another significant development in the conflict. Presuming the site is indeed an S-300 or S-400 battery, and if it was provided by Russia, it would demonstrate Moscow’s expanding efforts to enhance the LNA’s air power and air defenses, following the previous deployment of [MiG-29]() and [Su-24]() warplanes, as reported by *The War Zone.* Beginning in May, Russia supplied Libya with at least [14 combat jets]() and both sides in the conflict have been expanding their air and air defense capabilities. However, the [precise capabilities]() of the alleged air defense system depend heavily on which sub-variant of S-300 or S-400 is involved, and the various missile subtypes, as well as to what degree the battery is integrated within a unified air defense network. The operational utility would also be determined by the level of situational awareness that’s available to their operators. The LNA’s [Pantsir-S1]() short-range air defense system — Russian-made, and supplied by the U.A.E. — has proven [notably vulnerable]() to Turkish attack, especially by armed [Bayraktar TB2]() drones, although the precise reasons for this have been subjected to ongoing [debate](). ![message-editor%2F1596733786510-s-300inlibya2.jpg]() *Transporter-erector-launchers associated with the S-300 in their deployed configuration., *ULIANA SOLOVYOVA/SPUTNIK VIA AP** While the S-300 — and even the more capable S-400 — might seem like overkill against the GNA’s limited aerial capabilities, even the TB2s, they could potentially serve as a deterrent to a wider Turkish intervention. A similar tactic was pursued by Russia in Syria, where an initial deployment of [Russian-operated SAMs]() was followed by [transfer of S-300s]() to the Assad regime. Those defenses, plus the [introduction of Russian airpower](), have played a fairly important role in maintaining Assad’s grip on power. In [this]() previous feature, we examined how a similar approach might play out in Libya. According to the [assessment]() of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Russia is continuing to position military equipment in Libya capable of conducting “kinetic operations” in the country. “Russia continues to play an unhelpful role in Libya by delivering supplies and equipment to the Wagner Group,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, AFRICOM director of operations. “Imagery continues to unmask their consistent denials.” *The War Zone* will continue to update this story as we wait for more substantial imagery to appear. In the meantime, it remains clear that Russia is continuing to establish a strategic foothold in Libya and that it’s also willing to commit increasingly capable systems to this conflict. *Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()