Khaama Press: The helicopters will be divided between the Afghan Air Force and the Special Mission Wing, which supports Commando ground operations. The first batch of the Black Hawk helicopters pilots will be mission-ready in May as they are currently being trained during follow-on Mission Qualification Training. Click here to read more (external link).
ars technica: The US military has fought the Taliban in Afghanistan for 16 years now, and it frequently has done so from the skies with Hellfire strikes by Predator and Reaper drones. Now the US is buying the Afghan military something with the same sort of sensors, loitering time, and firepower—except humans will have to sit
FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) — At least eight insurgents were confirmed dead as warplanes struck Taliban bastion in Wardoj district of Afghanistan’s northern Badakhshan province on Sunday, a local official said. “The warplanes for the first time over the past two years targeted Taliban main stronghold in Chakaran area of Wardoj district today morning killing
Ayaz Gul VOA News January 23, 2018 ISLAMABAD — The United States has redeployed a squadron of A-10 ground attack planes to Afghanistan, bolstering the air campaign against the Taliban being conducted in partnership with Afghan forces. The U.S. military said Tuesday the aircraft, commonly known as the “Warthog,” supports the increased requirements for close air
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty January 6, 2018 The Pentagon’s inspector-general has released a report sharply criticizing NATO-led, U.S. supported attempts to reform Afghanistan’s air force, citing gaps in training, support, and a lack of a coherent overarching strategy that has left coalition advisers insufficiently prepared. The report, dated January 4, was broken down into six
Madeeha Anwar VOA News November 11, 2017 WASHINGTON — Pakistan’s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently responded to an inquiry from parliament’s upper house on how slain Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was able to get a Pakistani passport. Mansoor was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province in May 2016 when he
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty October 8, 2017 Afghan military officials say at least seven Taliban militants have been killed by an air strike that was carried out by Afghan security forces in the northern Province of Sar-e Pul. Nasratullah Jamshidi, a spokesman for the Afghan Army Corps in the northern region, says 11 other militants
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 19, 2017 The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has received its first U.S.-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as part of a planned replacement of its aging fleet of Russian-made helicopters. “The first Afghan Air Force UH-60s arrived today at Kandahar Air Field” in southern Afghanistan, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said
The Drive: The U.S. Army signed a deal to buy as many 150 MD 530F light attack helicopters, as well as a host of related mission equipment, specifically for American allies and partners, over the next five years. The first deliveries will go to Afghanistan, where some officials have previously criticized the tiny gunship’s performance
Tolo News: In a major sign of long-term support for Afghanistan, the United States and NATO alliance are moving to support the Afghan Air Force by investing billions of dollars in the nation’s Air Force. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, commander of Train, Advise, Assist Command said in an interview with TOLO news on Sunday that $7