| Air Force of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
| د افغانستان اسلامي امارت هوایي ځواک (Pashto) قوای هوایی امارت اسلامی افغانستان (Dari) | |
 | |
| Founded | 1921; 104 years ago (1921)[1] |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Part of | Afghan Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Kabul |
| Colours | Grey |
| Equipment | 29 aircraft[2] |
| Engagements | List of wars involving Afghanistan |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force | Amanuddin Mansoor |
| Notable commanders | Colonel GeneralAbdul Qadir Lieutenant General Abdul Fahim Ramin[3] |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel (limited usage) | |
| Fin flash[4] | .svg) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack helicopter | Mil Mi-24,Mil Mi-35,McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender |
| Utility helicopter | Mil Mi-8,Mil Mi-17,Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk |
| Trainer | Aero L-39 Albatros |
| Transport | Antonov An-26,Antonov An-32,Cessna 208 Caravan,Harbin Y-12 |
TheAfghan Air Force (Pashto:د افغانستان اسلامي امارت هوایي ځواک,Dari:قوای هوایی امارت اسلامی افغانستان)[5] is theair force branch of theAfghan Armed Forces.[6]
TheRoyal Afghan Air Force was established in 1921 under the reign ofKingAmanullah and significantly modernized by KingZahir Shah in the 1960s. During the 1980s, theSoviet Union built up the Afghan Air Force, first in an attempt to defeat themujahideen and in hopes that strong Afghan airpower would preserve the pro-Soviet government ofMohammad Najibullah. When Najibullah eventually fell in 1992 the Afghan Air Force may have counted 350 aircraft.[7] The collapse of Najibullah's government in 1992 and the continuation of a civil war throughout the 1990s reduced the number of Afghan aircraft to some 35–40.[8] DuringOperation Enduring Freedom in late 2001, in which theTaliban government was ousted from power, all that remained of the AAF was a few helicopters.
In 2006, the Afghan National Army Air Corps was established, and was renamed the Afghan Air Force in 2010 while remaining part of theAfghan National Army.[9][10] Since 2007, the U.S.-led Combined Air Power Transition Force, renamed theNATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan in 2010, aimed to rebuild and modernize the Afghan Air Force.[11] It served as the air component of the NATOCombined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan which was responsible for organising the Afghan Armed Forces.[12] The AAF possessed 161 aircraft in 2021 and had in 2020 over 7,500 personnel.[13][14] TheResolute Support Mission intended to raise the ranks of the AAF to 8,000 airmen and increase the number of aircraft, which were progressively getting more advanced.[15]
Following thewithdrawal of NATO forces in the summer of 2021, in addition toa large-scale offensive by the Taliban, the mostly non-functional Air Force largely disintegrated. This culminated in theFall of Kabul and PresidentAshraf Ghani fleeing to theUnited Arab Emirates. Large numbers of airmen either fled the country or stood down in the face of the Taliban, with many fixed and rotary-wing aircraft being destroyed or captured by the Taliban. Many other fixed and rotary-wing aircraft had flown to neighboring countries. It was reported that 46 aircraft (22 fixed-wing and 24 helicopters) have so far ended up atTermez Airport inUzbekistan.[16] After the takeover, the Taliban expressed their intention to rebuild the Afghan Air Force and had called on US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan.[17]
In July 1921, theRSFSR promised to deliver aircraft free of charge to the Afghan government.[1] In 1924 and 1925 the new air force first saw action when it fought against theKhost rebellion.[19] From 1921, the Soviet Union and theUnited Kingdom provided a small number of aircraft to KingAmanullah Khan; who had been impressed withBritish India's use of aircraft against theEmirate of Afghanistan's forces in 1919, during theThird Anglo-Afghan War. However, the aircraft he was given were not made into a separate air arm until 1924. For the next decade, Soviet pilots performed the bulk of the flying and equipping for the AAF, probably about one-half of the aircraft werePolikarpov R-1s, a Soviet copy of the de Havilland DH.9A. Most AAF aircraft were destroyed in the civil war that began in December 1928, and it was not before 1937 that a serious rebuilding effort began. From the late 1930s until World War II, BritishHawker Hind and ItalianIMAM Ro.37 aircraft constituted the bulk of the Afghan Air Force, which by 1938 amounted to about 30 planes in service.[20] The Hawker Hind remained in the Afghan inventory until 1957, and as of 2009 one former Afghan Air Force Hawker Hind still flew in theShuttleworth Collection. In 1947, the Air Force was redesignated the Royal Afghan Air Force (RAAF), a title it retained until further political upheaval in 1973.[21][22]
By 1960, the Royal Afghan Air Force consisted of approximately 100 combat aircraft includingMiG-15 fighters,Il-28 light bombers, transports, and a few helicopters.[23] Also by that time, a small number of Afghan pilots were undergoing undergraduate pilot training in the United States, while others attended training in the Soviet Union,India, and several European countries. In 1973King Zahir Shah was deposed andMohammed Daoud Khan became the country's president. During his five years in power, until theSaur Revolution of 1978, Daoud gained Soviet assistance to upgrade the capabilities and increase the size of the Afghan Air Force, introducing newer models of SovietMiG-21 fighters andAn-24 andAn-26 transports. In 1979 the Air Force lost four Mi-8s.[24] Improvements in the early-to-mid-1970s notwithstanding, the Air Force remained relatively small until after the 1979–80Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. While the Afghan Air Force was equipped with a large inventory – probably some 400 aircraft in the mid-1980s – many of them were manned and maintained by advisors fromCzechoslovakia andCuba. In many cases, the Soviets were reluctant to entrust Afghan pilots with either the latest aircraft models or high priority missions and, indeed, a number of Afghan pilots were equally reluctant to conduct air strikes against their countrymen.[25] The Afghan Air Force was at its strongest in the 1980s and early 1990s, producing some concern on the part of neighboring countries. The Air Force had at least 7,000 personnel plus 5,000 foreign advisors. At its peak, the Air Force had at least 240 fixed-wing fighters, fighter-bombers and light bombers. Midway through theSoviet–Afghan War, one estimate listed the following inventory:
Additionally, the Afghan Air Force probably operated some 40 or more transports, including theAntonov An-26,Antonov An-24, andAntonov An-2.[25] Another estimate in 1988 painted a more detailed picture of the Afghan Air Force:[29]
On February 1, 1986, the staffing of military equipment and personnel of the Air Force and Air Defence was:[30]
TheMil Mi-24 andMi-35 (export model)attack helicopters have a long history in Afghanistan. The aircraft was operated extensively during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, mainly for attackingmujahideen fighters. Early in the war, the only anti-air weapons of the mujahideen were Soviet made shoulder-launched, heat-seeking SAMs and American Redeye, which had either been captured from the Soviets or their Afghan allies or were supplied from Western sources. Many of them came from stocks the Israelis had captured during their wars with Soviet client states in the Middle East. Owing to a combination of the limited capabilities of these early types of missiles, poor training and poor material condition of the missiles, they were not particularly effective.[31]
Beginning in 1986, the US supplied the mujahideen with its state-of-the-art heat-seeking missile, theFIM-92 Stinger, which the Afghans employed with devastating effect. In the first use of the Stinger in Afghanistan, mujahideen fighters downed three of eight unsuspecting Soviet Mi-24 Hinds as they approached the airfield at Jalalabad on a late September afternoon. Some scholars point to that event in 1986 as the turning point in the war. Moreover, for most of the remainder of the war when Stingers were known to be present, Soviet and Afghan aircraft elected to remain at higher altitudes where they were less vulnerable to the missile, but also less effective in ground attacks. Although employed extensively throughout the war as a ground attack platform, the Hind suffered from a weak tail boom and was found to be underpowered for some missions it was called upon to perform in the mountains of Afghanistan, where highdensity altitude is especially problematic for rotary-wing aircraft.[32][33]
Overall, the Hind proved effective and very reliable, earning the respect of both Soviet and Afghan pilots as well as ordinary Afghans throughout the country. The mujahideen nicknamed the Mi-24 the "Devil's Chariot" due to its notorious reputation.[32]
After the Soviet withdrawal and the departure of foreign advisors, the Air Force declined in terms of operational capability. With the collapse of the Najibullah Government in 1992, the Air Force splintered, breaking up amongst the different mujahideen factions in the ongoing civil war. By the end of the 1990s, theTaliban maintained five supersonicMiG-21MF and 10Sukhoi Su-22 fighter-bombers.[34] They also held sixMil Mi-8 helicopters, five Mi-35s, five L-39Cs, six An-12s, 25 An-26s, a dozen An-24/32s, an IL-18, and a Yakovlev.[35]TheAfghan Northern Alliance/United Front operated a small number of helicopters and transports and a few other aircraft for which it depended on assistance from neighboring Tajikistan.
While the land forces, the army, changed fundamentallyunder the Taliban from 1996 to 2001, the air force was an exception in that the old structures and chain of command were maintained.[8] With its founding in 1994 the Taliban invited former Communist Pilots to join their ranks which manyKhalqists andPashtunParchamites willingly accepted due to ethnic solidarity or a despise for the Mujahedeen warlords who had not brought peace to the nation.[36]
With the breakdown of logistical systems, the cannibalization of surviving airframes was widespread. The US air campaign in the fall of 2001 destroyed most of the remaining Afghan aircraft.
After the end of theSoviet war in 1989 and collapse ofNajibullah's government, theTaliban took overKabul in 1996. Afghanistan faced substantial economic sanctions from the international sector during the Taliban regime. The sanctions, along with the Taliban government's control ofAriana Afghan Airlines and the grounding of many of the carrier's international flights, had a devastating effect on the economic health of the company through the 1990s. The fleet was reduced to only a handful of Russian and Ukrainian builtAn-26s,Yak-40s and threeBoeing 727s, which were used on the longest domestic routes and military transport roles. With no overseas assets, by 1999 Ariana's international operations consisted of flights toDubai only; also, limited cargo flights continued intoChina's western provinces. However, sanctions imposed byUN Security Council Resolution 1267 forced the airline to suspend overseas operations. In November 2001 (2001-11), Ariana was grounded completely.
According to theLos Angeles Times:
With the Taliban's blessing, Bin Laden effectively had hijacked Ariana, the national civilian airline of Afghanistan. For four years, according to former U.S. aides and exiled Afghan officials, Ariana's passenger and charter flights ferried Islamic militants, arms, cash and opium through the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. Members of Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network were provided false Ariana identification that gave them free run of airports in the Middle East.
According to people interviewed by theLos Angeles Times,Viktor Bout's companies helped in running the airline.[37]
It was 2005 before a US-led, international effort began to rebuild the Afghan Air Force.[38] Marion writes:[39]
In 2005, the Americans took the first tentative steps to reestablishing an Afghan presidential airlift capability in keeping with a directive from U.S. Secretary of DefenseDonald Rumsfeld. In May 2005, Afghan officials named Major General Dawran the commander of the new Afghan Air Corps. Later that year, a small team led by Colonel John Hansen, U.S. Army, began working with Afghan airmen at Kabul International Airport. By mid-2006, Colonel Hansen had developed a plan for the Air Corps that became the basis for the Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF) that began work the following year.
For the first time in over two decades Afghanistan began training new pilots. In January 2008,PresidentHamid Karzai said that his country's Air Force had been reborn after inaugurating its new headquarters at Kabul International Airport freshly equipped with new aircraft. It had received 26 new and refurbished aircraft, including Czech-donated Mi-35 Hind helicopter gunships. With United States funding, the Afghan government had also acquired transport helicopters and a number of Ukrainian military aircraft.[40]
The North Kabul International Airport cantonment area included the new headquarters for the Afghan Air Force and 201st Kabul Air Wing. The wing's three operational squadrons, one fixed-wing, one rotary-wing, and the Presidential Airlift Squadron, were housed there.[citation needed] The cantonment area includes state-of-the-art hangars as well as operations, logistics, billeting, dining, and recreational facilities. Extensive AAF facilities were also constructed atKandahar International Airport.
A number of Afghan pilots and pilot-candidates travelled to the United States beginning in May 2009 for English language training, to be followed by instrument training for the pilots and undergraduate pilot training for the pilot-candidates.[41] This was the start of an initiative that, within the following years, was to produce a small cadre of seasoned, instrument-rated Afghan Air Force pilots as well as a larger number of younger, well-trained pilots to serve as the backbone of the Afghan Air Force for the next generation. Other NATC-A-led programs include English language and technical courses for AAF personnel in various specialties including aircraft maintenance, logistics, communications, and engineering. As of June 2009, the Air Force numbered about 2,400 airmen, with a planned strength of 7,400 airmen within several years.[42]
In late 2009, the AAF began receiving refurbished former Italian Air ForceAeritalia G.222tactical transports, named C-27 in U.S. service, andMi-17V5 Hiptransport helicopters.[43] In June 2010, the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) was renamed theAfghan Air Force (AAF) by order of Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai.[44][10] Also in the same year, a number of female trainers completed their courses and were commissioned aslieutenants. More were being trained as the numbers of air force personnel increased.
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As of March 2011, the Afghan Air Force (AAF) had 44rotary-wing and 13fixed-wing aircraft in serviceable condition. By the end of 2011, the AAF had 16C-27As (on loan from the U.S. government) and 35 of the newMi-8 Hips while continuing to operate the older Mi-17s and retiring theAn-32 fleet. Further growth of the AAF depended on decisions regarding the size of the Afghan National Army which, in turn, determined AAF requirements. In a country of rugged terrain possessing limited ground transportation options, the Afghan Armed Forces depends heavily upon AAF fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft for airlift of soldiers and supplies between corps operating locations, medical and casualty evacuation, and transport of human remains. The Afghan government also relied on the AAF for transportation of election materials during the2009 presidential election. It was announced in October 2011 that the Afghan Air Force would be provided with 145 multi-type aircraft and 21 helicopters.[45] By the end of 2011, the Afghan Air Force had a total of 4,900 airmen and personnel.
By 2016 the Afghan Air Force was planned to expand to 8,000 airmen and 145 operational aircraft.[46] To that end there was continuing expansion in infrastructure, training and maintenance facilities. The US also purchased modern equipment and aircraft including Russian Mi-17 helicopters. Significant investment went into purchasing modern training aircraft such asMD 500 helicopters and fixed-wingCessna 182 and208 planes.
In 2016–17, theUnited States Department of Defense (DOD) aimed to procure 30 additional armed MD-530F helicopters and 6 additional A-29 attack aircraft to replace the Mil Mi-35 in service with the AAF. DOD asked for funds to add an additional five AC-208s to the fleet. The requested FY2017 Afghan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) budget, including the 23 additional funds for the first year of the planned procurement, went to Congress on 10 November 2016.[47]
As part of the2021 Taliban offensive, Taliban fighters targeted Afghan Air Force pilots.[48] Many pilots escaped toUzbekistan andTajikistan, bringing a number the AAF aircraft with them.[49] Satellite pictures analysis of 16 August indicated that theTermez Airport held multiple AAF aircraft: including variousMi-17,Mi-25 andUH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, as well someA-29s andC-208s airplanes.[50] An AfghanA-29 Super Tucano crashed in Uzbekistan'sSurxondaryo Region. Two pilots ejected and landed with parachutes.[51] Initially it was reported shot down by Uzbekistan air defenses, then the Prosecutor General's office in Uzbekistan issued a statement saying that an Afghan military plane hadcollided mid-air with anUzbekistan Air ForceMiG-29, finally it also retracted the statement about the mid-air collision.[52] Afghan pilots who escaped to Tajikistan were held in asanitorium until they were freed in November 2021.[53]
During the final Taliban offensive, the Taliban also deployed a secretive drone unit to attack high value targets such as government officials.[54]
On 1 September 2021, the Taliban flew a Black Hawk displaying the flag of the Taliban over Kabul.[55] The top leadership of the Taliban announced their intentions to rebuild the Air Force.[56] They have also encouraged US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan. However, only a few pilots have returned since the Taliban takeover.[17]
On 11 January 2022, Taliban's minister of DefenceMullah Yaqoob asked Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to return the aircraft that were used by Afghan pilots to flee the country and warned of repercussions if the aircraft are not returned.[57]
On 6 February 2022, Taliban's Ministry of Defence spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarizmi announced that around five Afghan pilots have returned to the country and resumed their work.[58]
As of July 2021, the Afghan Air Force had 161 aircraft with, as of May 2020, 7,505 personnel.[13][14] There are four Afghan Air Force wings:
The command center of the Afghan Air Force was located atHamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. TheShindand Air Base inHerat Province served as the main training facility.
Lt. Gen.Mohammad Dawran was the final Chief of Staff of the Afghan Air Force[3][59] and Gen. Abdul Fahim Ramin as the final Afghan Air Force Commander.[60] Abdul Raziq Sherzai served as a major general and commander of the Kandahar Air Wing.[61] Abdul Raziq Sherzai is the brother ofNangarhar Province province governorGul Agha Sherzai.[62]
In 2013 Afghanistan sentIndia a large wish-list of equipment which included one An-32 and two squadrons of Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters. This deal was initially put on hold due to fears of antagonizing India's regional rival Pakistan, but in 2014 India reached a compromise where instead of directly supplying the equipment it would instead pay Russia to deliver them. The deal included arms, ammunition and the refurbishment of weapon systems and aircraft left behind by the Soviets.[63][64]
India further agreed to help refurbish older Soviet-era aircraft in Afghan Air Force. As a part of this two Indian Air Force teams visited Afghanistan and identified around 50 aircraft which could be serviced and brought back to active service. This included Mi-25/35, Mi-8 and An-32s aircraft.[65]
Twentyattack aircraft that could also be used for training and to provide theArmy withclose air support were desired. The two contenders were theEmbraer A-29 Super Tucano and theBeechcraft AT-6. Embraer won the previous contract but the tendering process was cancelled after it was discovered that proper procedures were not followed. A winner for the new contract was expected in June 2013 with first deliveries expected to begin in the third quarter of 2014, about 15 months after originally planned.[66][67] The Super Tucano was declared the winner of the contract again in 2013.[68] The contract was to be completed by Sierra Nevada Corp. for 20 A-29 Super Tucanos with an expected delivery date of between December 2015 and 2018.[69][70] DOD purchased the Super Tucanos for $427 million.[71]
The first ten aircraft were to be stationed atShindand Air Base, in western Afghanistan. The other 10 were to go toKandahar Airfield.[72]
Pilot training was undertaken by the U.S. Air Force's81st Fighter Squadron atMoody Air Force Base,Georgia. On 18 December 2015, the first Super Tucano pilots graduated atMoody AFB. USAF Colonel John Nichols, the 14th Flying Training Wing Commander said of the pilots, "The extraordinary dedication of these pilots and the sacrifices these graduates have made will help establish a secure, stable and unified country". The pilot graduates and the remaining 22 student pilots were to receive further, advisory support in Afghanistan.[73]
The first four aircraft arrived at Hamid Karzai International Airport on 15 January 2016,[74] with a further four due before the end of 2016. Combat-ready Afghan Super Tucano pilots graduated from training at Moody AFB returned to Afghanistan, the first of a total of 30 pilots the USAF trained.
By March 2018, the AAF had 12 Super Tucanos in service. On 22 March 2018, the Afghan Air Force dropped a GBU-58Paveway II laser-guided bomb from a Super Tucano in combat, for the first time.[75]
The U.S. Navy equipped the Afghan Air Force with refurbished An-32 transport aircraft during initial reconstruction efforts.[76] These aircraft augmented an existing fleet of An-32 and An-26 aircraft. The An-32 was retired on 17 June 2011 in a push to move operations over to the C27 program but like the L-39, it is still kept in ready status by the Afghan Air Force.[77]
The United States purchased the C-27A to move the AAF away from Soviet aircraft. A total of 20 former Italian military C-27As were purchased with the intent of providing the Afghan Air Force a fleet that would last 10 years. However, the prime contractor in the refurbishment and supply of the planes,Alenia Aermacchi North America, a unit of Italian defense conglomerateFinmeccanica S.p.A., was unable to provide adequate maintenance support for the aircraft. As a result, the majority of the fleet at any time was grounded for safety of flight issues (including a period where the entire fleet was grounded for over six months). The US military worked over the course of three years with Alenia North America to get the fleet fully operational.[78]
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Part of the issues with supplying the C-27As came about from ownership. The C-27A program included an initial parts supply and training contract for the Afghan Air Force. Upon arrival of the first two aircraft in November 2009, Brig. Gen. Michael R. Boera,[79] commanding general, Combined Air Power Transition Force and commander of the438th Air Expeditionary Wing announced that the aircraft were part of the Afghan National Army Air Corps in a ceremony at Kabul International Airport.[80] The contract for the aircraft, a 14-month effort, had the U.S. government as the end user of the aircraft due to an Italian arms embargo with Afghanistan. The U.S. declaration that the C-27A was now an Afghan Air Force asset effectively violated international law and the Italian government enforced the embargo and stopped shipment of contracted supplies to Afghanistan. This put the U.S. government in a dilemma since the $290 million contract was funded through the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) which required, by U.S. law, that all military materials purchased be turned over to the Afghan government.[81]
The C-27A was eventually determined to be a U.S. owned asset utilized by the Afghan Air Force with intent to turn over the asset in the future. This determination assumed that the Italian embargo would at some point be lifted, or that enough supplies could be stock piled to take the aircraft through its expected 10-year service life, but that determination was not immediate. This caused a delay of contracted goods beyond the time frame of the initial contract through no fault of the contractor, and made it necessary for the U.S. government to enter into a second more costly maintenance contract with Alenia North America to get aircraft operational. Since the C-27A aircraft purchased still had Italian military air worthiness certificates controlled by the company, Alenia North America effectively monopolized the entire supply chain making fair competition non-existent. This second contract inflated the total program cost to over $600 million, and it would have cost over $1.2 billion had the U.S. opted to extend the contract up to 10 years.[82]
The contract with Alenia North America was eventually terminated. It was announced that the contractor had failed to meet their legal obligations, and that the Afghan Air Force would receive fourLockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, expected in 2013.[83] The G-222 program legacy to the C-130 is that the cockpit and cargo compartment configurations of the C-27A are similar to that of a C-130H. The C-27A simulator program, contracted to Fidelity Technologies Corporation, produced three C-27A simulators: one Fuselage Load Trainer (cargo compartment), one Flight Training Device (cockpit), and one Basic Aircraft Training Device (cockpit).[84] These training devices were built to FAA standards from two derelict U.S. Air Force C-27A aircraft and allowed the Afghan Air Force to continue to train while the C-27A fleet was effectively out of service for over a year, making transition to the C-130 a feasible alternative.
The Mi-17 was in service with the Afghan Air Force since the late 1970s (four were damaged or destroyed in combat as early as 1979). DOD purchased a number of new Mi-17s for the AAF from Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. At least two Mi-17s were reported to have crashed during the Afghanistan War.[85]
The most recent DOD acquisition of Mi-17s was for 21 airframes, spare parts and training. These all include western avionics. Eighteen of these were delivered in 2012. As part of the contract, there was also an option for another twelve Mi-17s, raising the contract to 33.[86][87] They were modified in the UAE after being delivered to the US Army to fit Afghan Air Force requirements better before being sent to Afghanistan.
The Afghan Air Force possessed two Mi-17v5 Flight Training Devices, one Mi-17v5 Basic Aircraft Training Device, and one Mi-17 Cockpit Procedure Trainer built by Fidelity Technologies Corporation.[84] The Air Force was expected be in possession of 46 Mi-17 helicopters by June 2012, with an additional 10 to be delivered by 2016.[86][87]
In 2017 the decision was made to transition from Russian to U.S. helicopters due to issues with sourcing parts and maintenance because of ongoing diplomatic issues between the US, the AAF main source of funds, and Russia. Consequently, it was decided to replace the AAF Mi-17s with refurbishedUH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The US Department of Defense (DoD) requested $814.5M for 2017, the first year of the plan, to re-equip the Afghan Air Force and to provide funding to procure 53 UH-60s, with refurbishment and modification of the first 18.[47] Long term the US planned to provide 159 UH-60 Black Hawks with funding for the first 53 already being secured in the 2017 budget, however, the DoD would have had to request additional funds each year to procure the rest of the proposed aircraft. Deliveries were expected to start in 2019 with 30 helicopters expected to be delivered each year.[88] The UH-60s were also to be fitted with rocket pods to increase their offensive capability and the first four UH-60s slated for training were expected to arrive in Afghanistan in autumn 2017. The refurbished helicopters would have been 1980s UH-60As with new engines with the most likely choice being the General Electric T-700-GE-701C, which is found on the U.S. Army's newer UH-60Ls and Ms, as well as the up-coming UH-60V model.[89]
TheCzech Republic supplied five Mi-35 attack helicopters in 2008.[90][91] Between 2015 and 2018,India donated eight Mi-35s.[92] In 2019, the DoD reported that it did not provide any funding or advisory support for the Mi-35s and that the Mi-35 had been "removed from the authorized fleet in 2015 but the Afghans continue to attempt to sustain them".[91][93] In 2021, it was reported that the helicopters donated by India were grounded due to a lack of Russian spare parts.[94]
In 2015, the AAF received the first 6 armed MD-530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters known inDari as the 'Jengi'.[95][96][97] The last 5 of a total of 60 MD-530Fs were received in 2019.[98] The MD-530Fs could be equipped with a FN Herstal HMP 400.50 BMG calibermachine gunpod and a M260 7-shotrocket pod.[99] Prior to 2015, the AAF had operated five unarmed MD-530 helicopters to train pilots.[95][100]
Training was undertaken at the Shindand Air Wing atShindand Air Base in western Afghanistan. The base which had been refurbished and expanded by NATO was tripled its initial size. The seven candidates were all graduates of theNational Military Academy of Afghanistan or Initial Officer Training held in the United Kingdom and also undertook English language training in the Kabul English Language Training Center. Students were to be trained in both fixed-wing aircraft, namely the Cessna 182T and 208B and in rotary wing aircraft, the MD 530F.[101] About 6MD 530F helicopters were delivered to Shindand in late 2011. The initial 6 helicopters completed acceptance flights and were in a condition to be used to begin training AAF pilots,[102] although one was destroyed in 2013 by an IED.[103] The four-year contract could’ve seen as many as 54 other helicopters being supplied to the AAF.[104]
With the delivery of 20 advanced fixed-wing light support aircraft, a plan was made for the A-29 Super Tucano Afghan pilots to undergo further training. This would’ve significantly increased the level of knowledge and experience in the AAF.[105]
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) deteriorated following the collapse of Najibullah's government in 1992, and it was nearly eliminated by US/Coalition air strikes during Operation Enduring Freedom in late 2001. The new NATO-assembled Afghan Air Force gradually increased its aircraft inventory, personnel, and operational capabilities since at least 2007. The last addition of aircraft was made in December 2011, which included 12 trainers and 6 helicopters from the United States.[106]
Prior to the hostilities, in July 2021 the Afghan Air Force had 131 usable or in-country aircraft including 23A-29 Super Tucano’s, 3C-130’s, 23Cessna 208’s, 10AC-208's, 12Mil Mi-17’s, 28UH-60 Blackhawk’s, and 42MD 530 helicopters.[13] In July 2020, the Special Mission Wing (SMW), a separate subordinate formation of the Afghan National Army that conducted special operations aviation missions, had four Mi-17 squadrons and onePilatus PC-12 squadron.[107] The number of SMW aircraft was classified, however, it has been reported that the number of PC-12's was 18 with 61% of them operational.[108][109]
During theTaliban offensive of 2021 several helicopters includingUH-60 Black Hawk's andMil Mi-17's were destroyed, while other helicopters includingMil Mi-24,MD 530F Cayuse Warrior, UH-60 Black Hawk and Mil Mi-17 were also captured by theTaliban.[110][111]
Throughout theFall of Kabul, at least 22 fixed wing and 24 helicopters carrying 585 Afghans fled toUzbekistan. One AfghanEmbraer EMB 314 Super Tucano crashed after crossing the border, Uzbek authorities issued conflicting reports on the cause. Two Afghan military planes carrying over 100 soldiers also landed in the Tajik city ofBokhtar.[112][113]
Initial estimates of AAF aircraft captured by the Taliban, according to photographic/video evidence, included 13 aircraft, 38 helicopters, seven Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAVs, and 73 additional aircraft reportedly disabled by U.S. forces before they departed.[114]
On 17 August 2021, it was reported that elements of the Afghan Air Force (AAF) fled to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on board 22 fixed-wing planes and 26 helicopters from the former AAF including A-29 Super Tucano, Cessna AC-208 Caravans, Pilatus PC-12NG, Mi-8/Mi-17s Hip, UH-60 Black Hawk, and MD 530F Little Bird.[115] As the AAF fled to neighboring countries, one A-29 Super Tucano crashed in Uzbekistan, while six landed safely.[115] 7 UH-60s fled to Uzbekistan.[115]
On 20 November 2021, it was reported that ex-Afghan Air Force aircraft - three Russian made Mi-17 Hip helicopters - had arrived atDavis-Monthan Air Force Base aka "The Boneyard". Based on radar data, they're believed to have come from Uzbekistan.[116]
On 10 December 2021, it was disclosed that a further 17 helicopters, ex-Afghan Air Force, have arrived atDavis-Monthan Air Force Base over the past few weeks. They included an additional four Mi-17 Hip transport helicopters and 17 MD 530F Little Bird armed light helicopters. This increased the total number of former Afghan Air Force aircraft, brought back to the U.S. to 24 aircraft - all helicopters.[117] 37 UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters are being stored in the U.S. as their delivery was cancelled, while it's believed the seven Black Hawks that fled Afghanistan may be returned to the same unknown location where the 37 never delivered Black Hawks are kept.[117] Six helicopters, including three UH-60A+ Black Hawks and three Mi-17s,[118] were undergoing maintenance outside of Afghanistan when the country fell and it's unknown whether these Mi-17s were part of the airlifts that brought the additional four Mi-17s toDavis-Monthan Air Force Base over the past few weeks.[117]
There are varying reports that some fixed wing and helicopters are in flying condition. These includeCessna 208s,Antonov An-26/An-32s,Mi-8/17s,Mi-24/35s,MD500 Defenders,UH-60 Black Hawks, and aScanEagle UAV.[119][120][121][122]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | |||||
| Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano | Brazil | Light attack | 1[2] | ||
| Transport | |||||
| Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | Transport | 1[2] | ||
| Antonov An-32 | Soviet Union | Transport | 2[2] | ||
| Cessna 208 | United States | Transport /Utility | 5[2] | ||
| Helicopters | |||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Russia | Utility | Mi-17 | 8[2] | |
| Mil Mi-24 | Russia | Attack | Mi-25 | 4[2] | |
| Sikorsky UH-60 | United States | Utility | UH-60A | 3[2] | |
| MD500 Defender | United States | Light attack / Trainer | MD 530F | 5[2] | |
| Trainer aircraft | |||||
| Aero L-39 Albatros | Czech Republic | Trainer aircraft | 1[2] | ||
| Base | Description |
|---|---|
| Bagram Air Base | Bagram was the largest all military air base in Afghanistan. It was a primary center forUnited States and allied forces for cargo, helicopter, and support flights. |
| Bamyan Air Base | Basic gravel airstrip. |
| Farah Air Base | Airport terminal only. |
| Herat Air Base | Built by the Soviets in the 1960s, it is the primary civil airport for the western portion of the country, but also houses rotary military aircraft. |
| Jalalabad Air Base | Rotary aircraft. |
| Kabul Air Base | Built by theSoviets in 1960, serving civilian traffic and military flights, the primary hub for international civilian flights. It serves as the home of the AAF 1st Wing |
| Kandahar Air Base | Built by the United States of America around 1960, serving civilian traffic and military support for the southern and central portions of the country. It is the home of AAF 2nd Wing. Was a major center Coalition forces. |
| Khost Air Base | Rotary aircraft. |
| Kunduz Air Base | Airport terminal only. |
| Mazar-i-Sharif Air Base | Built by theBundeswehr in 2005–2006, it is a dual-use airport serving the northern and central portions of the country. A small American contingent has been based there. Home to the 4th Wing. |
| Shindand Air Base | Built by theSoviets in 1961. Home to the AAF 3rd Wing, is the second largest military air base in the country, located just south ofHerat with significant military aircraft shelters and facilities. Its location made it a prime candidate as a training base for the AAF. |
During its first incarnation, Afghan aircraft carried simple black and white depictions of the Arms of Afghanistan, with the inscription 'God is great' on the underside of the wings. The Afghan flag was possibly used as well. Afghanistan adopted a black, red, and green flag after the 1929 revolt, and when the Air Force was given aircraft again in 1937, it placed this flag on the rudder, and adopted wing and fuselage roundels based on the three colors.
![Roundel and fin flash used by the Afghan Air Force from 1924 until 1929.[123]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aRoundel_of_Afghanistan_(1924%25E2%2580%25931929).svg)
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The Royal Afghan Air Force retained the roundels until adopting a new style in 1967, with a unique insignia consisting of a tri-color triangle using the national colors upon a white disc, on which was inscribed with Arabic lettering forming various phrases. This roundel was placed on the rudder in place of the flag. This remained in use after the overthrow of the monarchy until the Saur Revolution in 1978, when a new insignia of a red disc with yellow inscriptions with the Pashto wordKhalq was adopted. This was short-lived however, as in 1983, an emblem more reminiscent of the 1937 Afghan Airforce roundel was adopted which featured a red star on a white disc ringed in black, red, and green was adopted.[124][page needed] These were in use until the fall of theNajibullah regime in April 1992.[124][page needed]
Upon the fall of theHomeland Party government in 1992, various different roundels were adopted by different warlord factions ofHezb-e Islami Gulbuddin,Jamiat-e Islami, theJunbish and later theTaliban some of which included the old tri-color with different coloring depending on the faction.[citation needed]
After the 2021 Taliban reassertion of power in Afghanistan, on some helicopters the triangle insignia was replaced by the flag or the coat of arms of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan while on other aircraft and most airplanes, the Taliban continue to use the traditional Afghan Air Force triangle.[4]
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Afghan National Security Forces (c. 2002–2021) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office of the President |  | |
| Ministry of Defense | ||
| Ministry of the Interior | ||
| Other | ||