New study: No-Fly Zone in Libya could cost billions

A F/A-18 fighter jet takes off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean Sea, June 14, 2010.

From Philip Ewing, Morning Defense:  A Libya no-fly zone could cost billions, according to a new study out today by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Analysts Todd Harrison and Zack Cooper considered three scenarios, including “full,” “limited,” and “standoff” no-fly zones, and crunched the numbers based on the costs of past such operations. For the first two assessments, Harrison and Cooper assumed U.S. and international commanders would launch at least partial upfront attacks to disable Libya’s air defenses, and factored those costs separately from the going operational costs.

From NATOSource: The Harrison/Cooper report examines three no-flight zone options for Libya. These estimates are based on comparisons with previous military operations in the Balkans and Iraq.

1.  Full No-Fly Zone with costs in the range of $100 to $300 million per week. This would cover all of Libya.  The initial cost would be $500 million to $1 billion.
 
2. Limited No-Fly Zone with costs in the range of $30 million to $100 million per week. This would cover “the northern third of Libya, above the 29th parallel.”  The initial cost would be $400 million to $800 million.
 
3. Stand-Off No-Fly Zone with costs in the range of $15 million to $25 million per week. This would cover only “coastal areas using air and naval vessels operating beyond Libyan territory.”  The initial cost would be $0.  (photo: Getty)

 

United States and Canada

Image: getty%203%2010%2011%20USS%20Harry%20Truman.jpg