British prime minister David Cameron gave authorisation yesterday for Apache attack helicopters to start flying into Libya. It is expected that the helicopters will be deployed within 24 hours.
Defence analyst Rear Admiral Chris Parry, said in an interview with the BBC this week that , if the Apaches were used for assault operations and in reinforcing the rebels in their attacks on the Gaddafi regime, it "could be seen as an escalation " of the western military intervention .
Parry said that the helicopters’ electro-optics and command and control systems were their main strength . The attack helicopters have been used extensively by UK forces in Afghanistan where they have been providing “ deterrence, intelligence and close air support for hours at a time “.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindi....html