A serious problem: fake armor armed forces in eastern and western Libya

Cairo – the center
The “Africa Military” platform raised the issue of fake and cloned armored vehicles that are being provided to parties in Libya, considering it a “serious problem,” and noting that at least two different armored vehicles that were provided to the “General Command” forces were traced and were confirmed to be fake or cloned copies. From real vehicles.

A report published by the platform concerned with military and defense news on the African continent explained that the first case was discovered in November 2020, and included the operation of the Emirati-made “Inkas Titan-DS” armored vehicle by the forces of Tariq bin Ziyad, affiliated with the “General Command.”

On February 4, 2020, photos spread on social media in which at least three Titan-DS vehicles were seen bearing the unit’s insignia. “Titan 4×4” vehicles are designed and manufactured by “Inkas Vehicles LLC”.

The vehicles shown in the photos have been confirmed to be fake or clones, and the company did not sell any vehicles to Libya, which was subject to a UN arms embargo at the time.

Second, in December 2023, another vehicle that initially appeared to be a British-made Jankel Fox long-range patrol vehicle was sighted with the forces of the 166th Battalion of the Interim Government of National Unity.

Likewise, the British “Jankel” denied supplying the Libyan forces with this vehicle. After subsequent examination, the African website said, “The vehicles are Jordanian-made long-range Fox patrol vehicles.” A highly mobile all-wheel drive vehicle developed based on Toyota’s robust chassis.

Although Jordan is known to support Libya financially and militarily, the Military Africa website quoted a representative of the Jordanian Light Vehicle Manufacturing Company that the company did not sell this type to Libya and that the vehicles are likely to be clones.

The report linked the appearance of fake armor in Libya with the announcement that the European Operation “IRINI” had intercepted in October 2022 a cargo ship that was transporting dozens of “BATT UMG” armored vehicles to Libya. It looked exactly like the original, except that it did not discover any distinctive logo or commercial signs. Indicate the manufacturer.

“These armored vehicles look exactly like the original except for the absence of any distinctive logo or commercial signage to indicate the vehicle manufacturer,” he said. It is not clear who is supplying the Libyan forces with these fake and cloned armored vehicles.”

He added: “In the context of Libya being subject to an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations, the presence of these illicit vehicles exposes the real manufacturers to unjustified scrutiny and suspicion. “Stakeholders and regulatory bodies must take decisive action to prevent the spread of counterfeit armored vehicles, maintain the integrity of the industry and ensure compliance with international regulations.”

The report highlighted the arrival of a continuous flow of weapons to Libya over the past years, coming from the UAE, Turkey, Jordan, Iran, and Qatar. It said, “The General Command forces, in particular, received various types of armored vehicles, while the Government of National Accord received weapons and training from Turkey and Qatar.”

He added: “At that time, the Armored Group (TAG) and its Libyan partner, Ismail Al-Shteiwi, provided the General Command forces with several Terrier LT-79 armored vehicles. At least eight of its armored vehicles were seen in a video posted by the group on December 9 during a military parade by the Special Operations Unit of the 106th Brigade.

Threatening peace efforts in Libya
While the African Platform stressed the danger of the spread of counterfeit weapons and military equipment in Libya, it urged the international community to take the necessary steps to prevent the supply of such vehicles to parties in Libya, and to hold those responsible accountable.

These incidents, according to the report, highlight the need to strengthen scrutiny and oversight of arms transfers to conflict-affected areas. International organizations and governments must work together to prevent the spread of counterfeit military equipment.

The website stressed that “the consequences that may arise from fake or cloned armored vehicles that find their way into military operations could be far-reaching and require a coordinated response to mitigate the risks they pose.”

The African Platform stressed that “the presence of these counterfeit vehicles not only undermines the effectiveness of the Libyan forces, but also raises concerns about the intentions of participants in the supply chain.” The use of fake or cloned armored vehicles not only jeopardizes the safety of its personnel, but also undermines efforts to achieve peace and security in Libya.”

She added: “The discovery of at least two different armored vehicles provided to Libyan forces, which were confirmed to be fake copies or clones of real vehicles, underscores the urgent need to address this issue.” Efforts should include identifying and intercepting counterfeit equipment, and investigating the networks involved in its production and distribution, through a comprehensive and collaborative approach that contributes to achieving the broader goal of enhancing stability and security in Libya.

The middle source