Torygraph:
Air Force told to send more planes to Libya
Nato will ask the RAF to contribute more warplanes to step up ground strikes against Col Muammar Gaddafi’s forces after the alliance yesterday said a third of the Libyan leader’s forces had so far been destroyed.
Britain’s overstretched air force will be asked to find more fighter jets, in spite of committing four extra Tornados for operations over Libya on Monday.
The request comes as Nato demands extra aircraft to meet a shortfall created after America pulled out the jets that had carried out more than 50 per cent of the ground strikes against Col Gaddafi’s forces.
“We will need more strike assets and that is being addressed,” said a Nato official. “Britain has stepped up to the mark with four Tornados but will have to do more.” Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, spent much of the weekend during a Middle East trip calling up defence ministers from across Europe asking them to contribute more aircraft, Whitehall sources said.
The Ministry of Defence is ready to send more Tornados and other aircraft “if they are needed” a senior source said. “We can send the whole lot if we need to, all 129 of them........"