Typhoon - Eurofighter
The RAF's Typhoon, or Eurofighter, is an agile aircraft primarily used in air-to-air combat. A number of Typhoons have been moved to Gioia del Colle air base in southern Italy, from where they will fly missions over Libya.
Tornado GR4
Weapons such as the Storm Shadow cruise missile mean that the Tornado can hit targets from a significant distance
Nimrod R1
Nimrod R1 reconnaissance aircraft, derivative of the maritime patrol version, are involved in surveillance operations in Libya. Max speed: 360 knots
Sentinel R1
The Sentinel R1 aircraft, used in intelligence operations in Afghanistan, is also being used in Libya.
Dassault Rafale
The Dassault Rafale is a multi-role, twin-engined delta wing aircraft capable of mounting air defence, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions.
Mirage 2000
Again a multi-role fighter, the descendant of the famous Mirage III of the 1960s. Entered service in 1982 but some were extensively modernised in the late 1980s to fill a gap until the Rafale entered service.
US AIRCRAFT
B-2 Spirit stealth bomber
Weapons: 40,000lb conventional or nuclear weapons
Weapons: multibarrel cannon, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and electronic countermeasure pods
The E-3 Sentry - currently being used by the US as well as Nato, the UK and France in Libya - is an airborne warning and control system, or Awacs, aircraft.
RC-135
The RC-135 is a reconnaissance aircraft, based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
CF-18 Hornet
The Canadian Armed Forces' front-line multi-role fighter, a version of the US F-18 Hornet, is used for air superiority and tactical support
Tomahawk cruise missile
The Tomahawk Cruise missile is 20 feet (6.1m) long and flies at more than 700 mph for a range of about 1,000 miles, close enough to the ground to take enemy air defences by surprise
Storm Shadow missile
Deployed from Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft, the Storm Shadow is a conventionally armed cruise missile.
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