Misbar Tracks Russian Military Aircraft From Moscow to Libya via Latakia

On September 26, Misbar’s team at Al-Araby TV tracked the flight in real time using FlightRadar24 and identified a Russian military transport aircraft traveling to eastern Libya from Syria along a route over the Mediterranean Sea.

Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft, operated by the Russian Air Force, was an Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A with the registration number RF-78684. The aircraft is a heavy military transport plane designed to carry equipment and logistical supplies.

Flight Path and Direction Data

Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft had departed from Latakia Airport (LTK) in Syria, near Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base. Its destination was not publicly listed and appeared as “N/A.”

The aircraft was tracked over the Mediterranean Sea off the Egyptian coast, specifically in the area near El Dabaa and Mersa Matruh, before its position was no longer detected by the tracking platform.

The aircraft’s track showed a heading of 228 degrees, indicating a southwestward course over international waters off North Africa and toward Libyan airspace.

The latest flight data available on FlightRadar24 showed the same aircraft reappearing on the tracking platform as it began its return journey toward Latakia Airport. The recorded route formed a closed path that began and ended off the Syrian coast, while the platform did not record a landing location inside Libya.

The absence of a recorded landing location in Libya may be attributed to the aircraft’s tracking signal being switched off before it entered Libyan airspace. This would prevent flight-tracking platforms from recording its location until the signal was restored over international waters in the Mediterranean during the return flight to Hmeimim Air Base in Syria.

Previous Flight From Libya to Syria Followed the Same Route

However, FlightRadar24’s historical flight data revealed that the same aircraft had made an earlier flight on September 24. It departed from Libya and traveled north and northeast over the Mediterranean Sea, passing along the Syrian coast before continuing through Turkish airspace and over the Black Sea to Russia.

The flight followed the same route that appeared over Egyptian territory during the aircraft’s more recent flights.

Historical flight records also show a notable pattern in the aircraft’s movements, with repeated departures from Chkalovsky Military Airport in Moscow (CKL). A review of its flight history, including flights on September 25, September 11, and August 19 and 17, 2026, shows Moscow as the starting point for a series of its recorded flights.

These records indicate that the aircraft has made repeated trips between Moscow and locations in the region, although the flight data alone does not establish the purpose of those flights.

Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A: Capabilities and Cargo Capacity

The Russian Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A is one of the newest heavy military transport aircraft in the Russian Air Force’s fleet. The upgraded variant is designed to transport logistical supplies, heavy equipment and military personnel over long distances.

The aircraft is equipped with PS-90A-76 engines and can carry up to 52 metric tons of equipment and heavy military cargo. It also has an extended range and can operate from semi-prepared runways.

Russia Expands Military Flights to Libya From Bases in Syria and Russia

Earlier news reports indicate that Moscow has expanded its use of military cargo flights to Libya from bases in Syria and Russia.

In a December 19, 2024, report, The New York Times documented a shift in Russia’s regional supply network, reporting that Russian military cargo aircraft arriving directly from Russia and Syria had landed at Al-Khadim Air Base and other facilities in eastern Libya.

The report cited a Libyan military official as saying that the flights, which the bases were notified about only shortly before their arrival, carried military equipment and logistical supplies.

An analysis by the Critical Threats Project cited in the report said the Il-76 cargo flights were intended to address risks surrounding Russia’s Hmeimim and Tartus bases in Syria. According to the analysis, Russia was upgrading and expanding its military facilities in Libya, potentially turning them into a new regional hub that could reduce its reliance on its Syrian bases and support the continued movement of troops and military equipment into Africa.

Read More

After Houthi Ban, Misbar Tracks Contraction in Yanbu Port Traffic and Alternative Routes for Saudi Crude

Despite U.S. Sanctions, Misbar Tracks 34 International Flights by Iranian Airlines