LANGKAWI, Malaysia - The Rafale fighter jets that were used to bring the recent Libyan uprising to a quick end and oust Muammar Gadaffi are on display at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2011.
Capt Cedric "Rut" Ruet of the French Air Force said the two jets were the same models used in Libya.
"The Rafael jets were crucial to bringing the Libyan conflict to a swift end," he told The Star on the sidelines of the exhibition.
Capt Ruet was one of the pilots who flew the Rafael fighter jets to Libya following a UN Security Council decision on March 17 to impose a no-fly zone on Libya's airspace.
"On March 19, eight Rafale fighter jets flew to Libya. Four Rafale jets were used to impose the no-fly zone, two performed reconnaissance duties and the other two striking missions on enemy tanks.
"I was one of the pilots in the jets bombing the enemy tanks," he said.
Measuring 15m, the Rafale can fly up to 2,500kph.
It made its first appearance in Afghanistan in 2007.
"The Rafale was used for bombing purposes then. It was only during the Libyan war that the jet performed all the functions that it is capable of executing,'' said Capt Ruet.
The Rafale jet is designed and built by France-based Dassault Aviation.
Capt Ruet is serving as a safety officer at LIMA '11.
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