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26 May 2011
Last updated at 17:25 ET
The UK is sending four Apache attack helicopters to the mission in Libya, after approval by the prime minister.
They will allow for swifter attacks on smaller targets in urban areas.
There had been speculation about the move after France said it would be deploying French Tiger helicopters.
The final decision on the deployment rested with David Cameron, who had requested more information about possible risks while he was en route to the G8 Summit in France.
The helicopters and their pilots are normally based at the Army's Wattisham airfield, in Suffolk, but are currently on exercise in the Mediterranean.
Their deployment means there will be less chance of civilian casualties in operations that are relying on the use of jets alone, said the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson.
But he added that the risk was that the Apaches could be targeted themselves as Libyan forces loyal to Col Gaddafi have access to thousands of surface-to-air missiles.
Their deployment was discussed at a meeting of the UK's National Security Council at Downing Street earlier in the day.
Mr Cameron has talked about "turning up the pressure" on Col Gaddafi but the Apache helicopters are expected to go into operation "within days" rather than overnight.
It is two months since UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised air strikes to protect Libyan civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.
The UN vote followed the violent suppression of protests against Col Gaddafi's regime and military strikes against Col Gaddafi's forces in support of the rebels began on 19 March.
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They will allow for swifter attacks on smaller targets in urban areas.
There had been speculation about the move after France said it would be deploying French Tiger helicopters.
The final decision on the deployment rested with David Cameron, who had requested more information about possible risks while he was en route to the G8 Summit in France.
The helicopters and their pilots are normally based at the Army's Wattisham airfield, in Suffolk, but are currently on exercise in the Mediterranean.
Their deployment means there will be less chance of civilian casualties in operations that are relying on the use of jets alone, said the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson.
But he added that the risk was that the Apaches could be targeted themselves as Libyan forces loyal to Col Gaddafi have access to thousands of surface-to-air missiles.
Their deployment was discussed at a meeting of the UK's National Security Council at Downing Street earlier in the day.
Mr Cameron has talked about "turning up the pressure" on Col Gaddafi but the Apache helicopters are expected to go into operation "within days" rather than overnight.
It is two months since UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised air strikes to protect Libyan civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.
The UN vote followed the violent suppression of protests against Col Gaddafi's regime and military strikes against Col Gaddafi's forces in support of the rebels began on 19 March.
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