Conflict catalog

1978 Chadian-Libyan Conflict: Weapons and Equipment

Armed confrontation between Chad and Libya that included repeated French intervention in support of Chad.

The Chadian-Libyan conflict was a long-running border and intervention war in northern Chad during the late 1970s and 1980s. The catalog is centered on air and ground systems documented in French intervention, Libyan air activity, and fighting around desert airfields and supply lines.

This catalog tracks weapon systems directly documented in Chadian-Libyan conflict use.

Entries should be limited to systems with direct conflict-use sourcing.

6 weapon systems

Conflict Actors

Chad / Libya

Chad

4 weapon systems in this catalog

Libya

3 weapon systems in this catalog

Context

Status
Published catalog
Domains
land, air

Weapons

1978 Chadian-Libyan Conflict Weapon Systems

Category

Aircraft & UAVs

Crewed aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

4/4
Aero L-39 Albatros, Jet trainer and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAero L-39 AlbatrosJet trainer and light attack aircraftSide: LibyaRole: Libyan aircraft captured or destroyed at Ouadi DoumBuilt: Aero Vodochody / Czechoslovakia / Czech RepublicThe Aero L-39 Albatros is a Czechoslovak two-seat subsonic jet trainer built by Aero Vodochody as the successor to the L-29 Delfin. The family became a Warsaw Pact and export training aircraft, while armed L-39ZO and L-39ZA variants added reinforced stores stations, cannon or missile options, and light-attack capability.
SEPECAT Jaguar, Supersonic jet attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSEPECAT JaguarSupersonic jet attack aircraftSide: ChadRole: Close air support and interdictionBuilt: SEPECAT / Hindustan Aeronautics Limited / France / United Kingdom / IndiaThe SEPECAT Jaguar is a Franco-British supersonic jet attack aircraft built for low-level strike, close air support, reconnaissance, and tactical nuclear delivery. Jointly developed by SEPECAT and later license-produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for India, it first flew in 1968 and went on to see documented combat use in the 1975 Western Sahara War, the Chadian-Libyan conflict, the 1990 Gulf War, the 1992 Bosnian War, the 1999 Kargil War, and the 1995 Cenepa War.
SF-260, Trainer and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSF-260Trainer and light attack aircraftSide: LibyaChadRole: Light strike aircraft and captured reconnaissance aircraftBuilt: SIAI-Marchetti / Aermacchi / Leonardo / ItalyThe SF-260 is an Italian trainer and light attack aircraft designed by Stelio Frati and built by SIAI-Marchetti and later Aermacchi/Leonardo. Its conflict record ranges from Libyan-operated and Chadian-captured SF.260s in the Chadian-Libyan conflict to Sri Lankan close-air-support use, Chadian government ground attacks, and Philippine Air Force SF-260 attacks during Marawi.
Su-17, Variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber / ground-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSu-17Variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber / ground-attack aircraftSide: LibyaRole: Libyan strike aircraftBuilt: Sukhoi / Soviet Union / RussiaThe Su-17 Fitter is a Soviet variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber developed from the fixed-wing Su-7B and exported through the Su-20 and Su-22 lines. Designed for ground attack and bombing with rockets, bombs, missiles, gun pods, and 30 mm cannon armament, the family is documented in Soviet, Iraqi, and Syrian conflict use from Afghanistan to Syria.

Category

Armored Vehicles

Troop carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and protected mobility.

1/1

Category

Infantry Weapons

Portable weapons used by soldiers and small units.

1/1
MILAN, Man-portable anti-tank guided missile, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsMILANMan-portable anti-tank guided missileSide: ChadRole: Truck-mounted anti-armor firepowerBuilt: Euromissile / MBDA / France / GermanyMILAN is a Franco-German, wire-guided anti-tank guided missile built around a reusable launch post and disposable missile round. Designed for infantry anti-armor teams, the SACLOS system requires the operator to keep the sight on target while guidance commands travel through a wire link. Its long service record spans Cold War export use, truck-mounted Chadian firepower in 1987, German-supplied Peshmerga launchers in Iraq, Islamic State use documented at Kobane, and French deliveries to Ukraine after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion.

Conflict Sources

  • Chadian-Libyan War - WikipediaPublisher: Wikipedia | Note: Supports the conflict's broad 1978-1987 history and the Chad-Libya framing. | Accessed: 2026-06-26