U.K.'s Libya Campaign By the Numbers

The U.K. says it has spent around £160 million on its involvement in the military campaign in Libya, with weapons replenishment costs estimated at £140 million.

The MOD has provided a broad outline of what weapons it has used. "From the start of current operations in Libya until 24 Oct 2011, U.K. forces have employed around 1,420 precision guided munitions, around 110 direct fire weapons, around 4100 rounds of direct fire 30 mm cannon rounds, and around 240 high explosive or illumination rounds from 4.5 inch naval guns," it says.

The weapons expended included MBDA Dual-Mode Brimstones, Storm Shadow cruise missiles and Raytheon Enhanced Paveway IIs and Tomahawk land-attack missiles. Unlike France, the U.K., which generally is less transparent than many of its allies, will not break down the figure more precisely.

At the peak of the operation 32 aircraft were involved, including 16 Tornado GR4s, six Eurofighter Typhoons, five AgustaWestland WAH-64Ds, one Raytheon Sentinel R1 airborne standoff radar, three Boeing E-3D Awacs and two VC10 tankers. 

Of the coalition's total sortie of more than 26,320 missions, including 9,658 strike sorties, the U.K. logged 3,000 sorties of which 2,100 were counted as strike missions. The MOD says it struck around 640 targets successfully.

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