FIRST IDENTIFICATION OF FIXED WING AIRCRAFT MATAN AS SARRA AIRFIELD, LIBYA (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000201300001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 10, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 2, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/10 :CIA-RDP84T001718000201300001-6
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/10 :CIA-RDP84T001718000201300001-6
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/10: CIA-RDP84T001718000201300001-6
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Page 1 of
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NPIC/IEG (8/83)
Z AUGUST 1983
FIRST IDENTIFICATION OF FIXED WING AIRCRAFT
MATAN AS SARRA AIRFIELD, LIBYA SWN
SIGNIFICANCE: THREE SF.260 AIRCRAFT WERE IDENTIFIED AT MATAN
S R R IELD IN SOUTHEASTERN LIBYA. THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME FIXED WING AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN OBSERVED AT THIS AIRFIELD
AND THEY MAY HAVE UTILIZED A NEWLY DEMARCATED, GRADED-EARTH
LANDING STRIP. (SWN)
REMARKS: ON IMAGERY OF ZONE SF.260 WAS PARKED AT THE 25X1
S~10 ~H 1~D OF THE EASTERN PARALLEL RUNWAY AND TWO SF.260 WERE
PARKED ON A GRADED-EARTH PARKING APRON NEAR THE CENTER OF THE
WESTERN PARALLEL RUNWAY. IN THE PAST, THE ONLY AIR ACTIVITY
OBSERVED IN THE AREA HAD BEEN HELICOPTERS AT A LANDING PAD AT
MAATEN ES SARRA MILITARY CAMP 1 NM SOUTHEAST 25X1
OF THE AIRFIELD. THE NEWLY DEMARCATED RUNWAY, AT LEAST 1,000
METERS IN LENGTH WITH TOUCHDOWN POINTS AND CENTERLINE WAS
NOT PRESENT ON MATAN AS SARRA AIRFIELD HAS BEEN 25X1
UNDER CONSTRUCTION SINCE EARLY 1980. (SWN)
ANALYST'S COMMENTS -- DURING 1981 AND 1982, ALTHOUGH NO
AIRCRAFT WERE HERE, A SMALL SECTION OF THE GRADED-EARTH EAST
RUNWAY WAS CONSIDERED OPERATIONAL FOR SMALL, LIGHT AIRCRAFT
AND HELICOPTERS. IN EARLY 1983, THE OPERATIONAL PORTION OF
THE RUNWAY WAS GRADED OVER AND THE MAJORITY OF THE
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY SHIFTED TO THE WEST PARALLEL RUNWAY. A
PROBABLE HARDENED SURFACE HAD BEEN LAID ON THE SOUTH 2,000
METERS OF THE WESTERN PARALLEL RUNWAY. THE INTRODUCTION OF
AN OPERATIONAL LANDING STRIP FOR LIGHT STRIKE AIRCRAFT AT
MATAN AS SARRA PROVIDES THE LIBYAN'S WITH A STAGING BASE
INSIDE LIBYA IN THE EVENT HABRE'S FORCES THREATEN AOZOU
AIRFIELD THE SF.260 HAS AN OPERATIONAL
RADIUS OF 300 NM. FROM MATAN AS SARRA, THE SF.260 CAN STRIKE
THE FAYA LARGEAU, THE BARDAI, AND THE AOZOU AREAS OF CHAD.
(SWN)
MATAN AS SARRA AIRFIELD IS IN SOUTHEASTERN LIBYA, 172 NM
SOUTH OF KUFRA AND 275 NORTHEAST OF FAYA LARGEAU, CHAD.
(SWN)
COORDINATES 21-41-25N 021-49-56E (S)
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work.
Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing boardls) they were prepared for and must be considered
valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/10: CIA-RDP84T001718000201300001-6