Reply #35: from what the BBC is reporting

[SteveG]

Most of the combat aircraft will be coming from France, Italy, Great Britain, Canada, Spain, United Arab Emirates (over 20 fighters), and Qatar. The French have their Carrier the Charles De Gaulle on station, Something like 24 warships have been positioned in support of these operations. Spain, France and Italy are providing access to airbases, we are providing targeting info and co-ordination plus the cruise missiles to take out the Libyan air defenses. The French went in first, before the air defenses were attacked because of they have this plane

France is clearly one of the key players in this crisis.

In diplomatic terms it has been one of the main promoters of UN Security Council resolution 1973 allowing the use of force. French aircraft, thought to be Rafale fighters, according to reports from Paris, have been the first to operate over Libya ensuring, according to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, that Libyan government aircraft cannot operate over the Benghazi.

Dassault Rafale

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Dassault Rafale

Crew: 1/2

Speech: 1.8 Mach

Weapons: Air-to-ground missile, including Apache and Exocet, air-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles

The Dassault Rafale is a multi-role, twin-engined delta wing aircraft capable of mounting air defence, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions.

It is operated by the French Air Force and a variant of the plane is the mainstay of the French Navy, operating from the carrier Charles de Gaulle.

The Rafale carries a sophisticated electronic survival system named Spectra. It can detect and track up to eight targets simultaneously and generate 3D maps for navigation and targeting.

the BBC has excellent coverage here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418