DefenceTalkParked at a military runway in Afghanistan near other aircraft used in the fight against the Taliban, the grey-green helicopter appears unremarkable at first blush. A second look at the UH-60 Black Hawk reveals a vital distinction: the US Army’s insignia has vanished, replaced by the triangular logo of the Afghan security forces. The fully […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghan-air-force-gets-its-own-black-hawk-choppers-70674/

DefenceTalkFour A-29 Super Tucano light-attack aircraft arrived for duty at Kabul Air Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan, March 20, 2017, where they will be used by the Afghan Air Force for close-air attack, air interdiction, escort and armed reconnaissance. The latest arrivals, which traveled from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., bring the AAF A-29 inventory from eight […]https://www.defencetalk.com/four-a-29-super-tucano-light-attack-aircraft-delivered-to-afghan-air-force-69555/

DefenceTalkIf there is one virtue the U.S. national security establishment needs to embrace in its war against Islamic extremism, it is patience. More than fourteen years in Afghanistan and almost thirteen in Iraq have demonstrated how difficult it is to accomplish even relatively straightforward tasks such as training an indigenous security force and building basic […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-afghan-air-force-finally-taking-flight-66603/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force delivered four A-29 Super Tucano airplanes to the Afghan air force Jan. 15 at Hamid Karzai International Airport here. Eight combat-ready attack pilots and a handful of maintainers graduated Dec. 17, 2015, and have returned to Afghanistan after a year of training at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, with the 81st […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghan-air-force-receives-first-four-a-29-attack-aircraft-66403/

DefenceTalkAfghan Air Force MD-530 helicopters made a successful combat debut against insurgents in Nangarhar Province as Afghan National Defense and Security Forces continue clearing the districts of Khogyani, Sherzad and Hisarak. The MD-530 Warrior, or “Jengi” in Dari, is the newest in the Afghan Air Force’s arsenal, providing air power to support the ANDSF. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/md-530-jengi-helicopter-flies-over-afghanistan-65010/

DefenceTalkKABUL, Afghanistan: A C-130 Hercules touched down at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, June 20, bringing expanded flight capabilities to the Afghan Air Force. After a weeklong journey beginning at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, the arrival of the C-130 in Afghanistan’s capital city illustrates a partnership that will provide increased tactical […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fourth-c-130-touches-down-in-kabul-expands-afghan-air-force-capabilities-64641/

DefenceTalkMD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) was recently awarded a firm fixed price contract to manufacture and deliver twelve (12) MD 530F aircraft for the Afghan Air Force. This is an Option award to the Department of the Army Non–Standard Rotary Wing (NSRW) Aircraft Contract for provision of Primary Training Aircraft (PTA). The exercise of this Option […]https://www.defencetalk.com/md-helicopters-to-deliver-12-md-530f-helicopters-to-the-afghan-air-force-60673/

DefenceTalkRecently, POGO reported on the failed attempt to provide C-27A Spartan aircraft to the Afghans in order to fulfill their medium airlift requirements. Now, the successor effort to replace the C-27As with C-130Hs is also experiencing turbulence. Fortunately, after the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) sounded the alarm, a congressional committee has taken […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-efforts-to-stand-up-afghan-air-force-still-falling-down-60275/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force has chosen a Brazilian firm for a $427 million contract to supply light attack planes to Afghan forces, the company said Thursday, despite competition from an American bid. Brazilian planemaker Embraer said 20 of its AT-29 Super Tucano aircraft would be manufactured in Florida in partnership with an American firm, after […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-chooses-brazilian-plane-to-outfit-afghan-force-46996/

DefenceTalkIn another historic step for the Afghan Air Force, an AAF Cessna 208 configured for battlefield casualty evacuation successfully transported a seriously injured solider and three minor casualties from Kandahar, Afghanistan to Kabul International Airport Feb. 11. The Afghan-tasked, planned and led mission validated the recently-signed CASEVAC Concept of Operations between AAF Commander Maj. Gen. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-afghan-air-force-c-208-casevac-a-success-46851/