First Four Mirage Jets Delivered to Libya; Pilots, Ground Crews Begin Training

The Dassault works delivered its first four Mirage jets to Libya last month, it was disclosed here today. But doubts cropped up as to whether Libya intends to accept all of the 110 Mirages it ordered from France last year for its air force. According to the newspaper Le Monde, the four Mirages, all training models, were handed over to the Libyans at the Bordeaux-Merignac Airbase which adjoins the Dassault works. They have since been transferred to the French Air Force base near Dijon where Libyan pilots and ground crews are being trained. The delivery of the trainers was four months ahead of schedule, but there are no plans to speed up production of the remaining Mirages, which, under the contract with Libya, are to be delivered over a period of 18 months, Le Monde said. Libya was reported to have ordered a number of French-made helicopters including nine Super-Frelons, each of which can carry a fully armed platoon. The French decision to supply Libya with Mirage jets aroused a furor in pro-Israel circles. It was pointed out at the time that the Libyan Air Force is too small to absorb so many highly sophisticated supersonic combat planes and that they probably would be transferred to Egypt. A clause in the contract prohibits transfer of the planes to a third party.