This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1969
Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi leads a military coup, proclaims the Libyan Arab Republic, and embarks on a strategic arms relationship with the Soviet Union.

30 December 1969
British Aircraft Corporation voids an estimated $288 million in contracts for air defense equipment including missiles and radar, after Libya fails to make payments.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 30 December 1969.

March 1972
Libya and the Soviet Union reportedly conclude an arms deal that includes the sale of advanced Soviet ground-to-ground missiles that are to be transferred later to Egypt.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 7 March 1972.

12 May 1973
French armed forces magazine reports that France sold Libya SS-12 missiles that can be mounted on three missile launchers that were built in Great Britain for the Libyan navy.
The magazine also reports that Libya is slated to buy a British-built escort ship armed with British surface-to-air Seacat missiles.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 13 May 1973.

3 September 1974
Libya's Soviet-built SA-6 ("Gainful") missiles make their first public appearance at a military parade marking the 5^th anniversary of Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi's seizure of power.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 4 September 1974.

21 February 1975
An unidentified source reports that Russians are instructing Libyans on how to use the SA-2 ("Guideline"), SA-3 ("Goa"), and SA-6 Gainful antiaircraft- and antitank missiles that they sold to Libya.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 21 February 1975.

24 May 1975
Communist-bloc sources report that the Soviet Union has agreed to sell $800 million worth of military equipment, including missiles, to Libya.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 24 May 1975.

5 April 1976
Intelligence sources say Libya will receive 50 batteries of surface-to-air missiles as part of a $2 billion deal made with the Soviet Union in 1975.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 5 April 1976.

3 September 1977
Soviet-built air-to-air missiles are presented at a rally celebrating the 8^th anniversary of Qadhdhafi's overthrow of the monarchy.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 3 September 1977.

5 October 1977
Reports in the Egyptian press accuse Libya of transporting surface-to-air missiles to Ethiopia and allege that Libya's port of Binghazi has been closed to normal commercial traffic for a week to allow for the unloading of new Soviet arms shipments.
— Thomas W. Lippman, "Egyptians Claim Libya is Shipping Soviet Weapons to Help Ethiopians," Washington Post, 6 October 1977.

1 December 1977
US intelligence sources say the Soviet Union is trying to sell Frog and Scud missiles, as well as MIG-23 fighters armed with modern missiles, to Third World countries in the Middle East. US and NATO analysts believe Libya is a likely customer.
— Information Bank Abstracts, New York Times, 1 December 1977.

	Updated September 2005