US To Buy 20 Fighter Planes For Afghan Air Force: Isaf

[Admin Khan]

The United Sates has committed that it will buy 20 fighter jets for the Afghan Air Force, the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) Spokesman, Brigadier General Gunter Katz told TOLOnews on Tuesday.

The Isaf spokesman said that all Isaf member countries including the US are trying hard to equip and empower the Afghan Air Force.

The Afghan Government is also putting extra effort to own an equipped and powerful air and land forces in order to provide security for the country. The Afghan forces are currently facing lot of challenges and shortfalls.

"We know that the Afghan people are concerned about the equipment for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). And yes indeed, we already provided lot of equipments for the ANSF. But we have to acknowledge that there are still some shortfalls and we always said that individual nations sit together, discuss with representatives from the Government and the army how to overcome those shortfalls. And one example of those negotiations is the recent announcement of the US Air Force that declared that they are willing to buy 20 fighter air planes for the Afghan Air force," Isaf Spokesman, Brigadier General Gunter Katz told TOLOnews.

It is said that the Afghan security forces are facing lot of challenges even in the transportation section and it will take some more time, when the Afghan Air Force will independently lead air operations.

But, the Afghan Ministry of Defence (MoD) believes that some of the challenges will be dealt with when the Afghan forces receive these fighter planes.

"The US has committed that 20 fighter planes will be given in the current year (2013). The fighter planes will be used for two operations: bombardment missions and discovery missions," MoD Spokesman, General Zahir Azimi told TOLOnews.

The shortfalls and inabilities of the Afghan security forces have cost them heavily. Because of the shortfalls it hasn't been able to carry out air operations independently. The MoD also accepted the shortfalls.

"Isaf in coordination with us is carrying out several operations within Afghanistan and we hope to become competent soon," General Zahir Azimi told TOLOnews.

MoD expects that Afghan military forces will be equipped with fighter planes, transport planes and drones within few years.

US To Buy 20 Fighter Planes For Afghan Air Force: Isaf

[Talal]

Any idea on what kind of jets Admin Khan ? Do you have any contacts in the Air Force ?

Afghanistan Air Force is supposed to be getting these Brazilian trainers in 2014. I think the new jets will be russian since most of the pilots and thus the teachers are familiar with russian platforms.


Brazilian Super Tucano trainer jet

[SiiNii]

Article doesn't mention jets just fighter aircraft which might be the journalist's misunderstanding or laziness. The plane you posted isn't a jet its a prop and is more appropriate for the stated purposes " bombardment missions and discovery missions " and affordable for the Afg AF.

[Talal]

Article doesn't mention jets just fighter aircraft which might be the journalist's misunderstanding or laziness. The plane you posted isn't a jet its a prop and is more appropriate for the stated purposes " bombardment missions and discovery missions " and affordable for the Afg AF.

if you read the caption above the jet it say its a trainer craft, these are also being bought for AF

[Admin Khan]

Not sure Talal. I think one of Karzais demands are fighter jets.

[Talal]

Iraq ended up getting top of the line Block - 52 but I think they paid for them. Air power is the key to winning guerilla warfare..but more than the jets its their maintenance and equipping them, now those things are really hard to manage.

[SiiNii]

Air power is the key to winning guerilla warfare..

Hold on there McNamara. We could give Gov of Afg every B-52 we have and the still couldn't defeat the Taliban.

Airpower not a key to winning counter insurgencies. This is what is needed:

Intelligence on specific individuals
Human intelligence to find the key leaders and facilitators of the insurgent networks
Overwhelmingly defeating guerrillas in each engagement
Allowing insurgents to live and fight also allows them to recruit the less motivated, less brave and pass on their combat skills and knowledge.
Non-complicit local population
It is important that the insurgents can't hide among the populace and are not supplied by them. The locals are on your side they will lead you to hiding insurgents.
Denial of cross border sanctuaries
We are familiar with Pakistan and the tribal areas. Historically insurgencies do not succeed without these areas.


And thats not a jet, thats a turboprop ground attack aircraft. They can be used in introductory flight training in the same way US forces use T-6 Texans.

Factsheets : T-6A Texan II

(Not a jet)

[Talal]

Hold on there McNamara. We could give Gov of Afg every B-52 we have and the still couldn't defeat the Taliban.

Airpower not a key to winning counter insurgencies. This is what is needed:

Intelligence on specific individuals
Human intelligence instead of sensors, drones
Overwhelmingly defeating guerrillas in each engagement
Don't allow them to live to fight another day, or recruit
Non-complicit local population
Hearts and Minds to isolate the insurgent
Denial of cross border sanctuaries
Keep them from resupply and refit


And thats not a jet, thats a turboprop ground attack aircraft. They can be used in introductory flight training in the same way US forces use T-6 Texans.

Factsheets : T-6A Texan II

(Not a jet)

The jet was an error on my part. As far as aerial warfare is concerned, even NATO cannot match the tactical advantage the taliban have. They first call for air support, wipe the area out and then send in foot soldiers. Although I think the jets will probably be more for recon missions.

[SiiNii]

That's what guys who are still in the mil tell me engagements are like. Take ineffective fire from insurgents, return fire ineffectively, call in air support that arrives by the time the insurgents have left, do assessment if possible, not possible if they're on opposite sides of a valley.

End result is insurgents get more footage for their highlight reels that they can use for recruiting and propaganda, become more combat hardened and improve operations.

I think the aircraft Karzai wants are for use against rogue ANA formations, vehicles and infrastructure once Afghanistan reenters the warlord era.

No jets here is what they ordered:
Super Tucano beats out AT-6 for Afghan Light Air Support tender

[randolph85]

nato hasn't won this war with all its top of the line aircraft, i don't see the point in this order for second rate aircraft for the aaf. in fact, i don't even see the point in afghanistan having an air force at all at this point. it would be useless against guerrillas, and wouldn't put a dent in their organization unless nato wanted to supply afghanistan with its best, which it won't. that's not to mention the aaf wouldn't even compete with its neighbors capabilities.

[Manzareh]

How generous they are..looking out for the benefit of afghans and giving them millions of dollars worth of aircrafts etc even when the economy is stooping down, god bless America the 'selfless' saviour of the world.

[MostafaM]

NATO hasn´t won the air war because they have strict codes of conduct.
Every single civilian killed by NATO is a big propaganda tool for the resistance.

But the Afghan Air Force won´t be that considerate since it will be an internal war: insurgency vs national army.

Example:
Colombian Air Force can bomb the hell out of the FARC and no one would even care.

The same is going to be the case in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Army will be much more free in their choices of weaponary and tactics than NATO right now.

There are alot of Afghan pilots training in Arizona right now, so I guess the Afghan Air Force will be equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcons or F-15 Strike Eagles.
The F-18 Hornets are originally made for air craft carriers so they wont be distributed to our army.
And the other jets are too advanced and expensive.

20 F-16s or F-15s, that´s a good news.

[Admin Khan]

Hold on there McNamara. We could give Gov of Afg every B-52 we have and the still couldn't defeat the Taliban.

Airpower not a key to winning counter insurgencies. This is what is needed:

Intelligence on specific individuals
Human intelligence to find the key leaders and facilitators of the insurgent networks
Overwhelmingly defeating guerrillas in each engagement
Allowing insurgents to live and fight also allows them to recruit the less motivated, less brave and pass on their combat skills and knowledge.
Non-complicit local population
It is important that the insurgents can't hide among the populace and are not supplied by them. The locals are on your side they will lead you to hiding insurgents.
Denial of cross border sanctuaries
We are familiar with Pakistan and the tribal areas. Historically insurgencies do not succeed without these areas.


And thats not a jet, thats a turboprop ground attack aircraft. They can be used in introductory flight training in the same way US forces use T-6 Texans.

Factsheets : T-6A Texan II

(Not a jet)

It appears as if Washington wants bases, and Karzai wants a strong air force, military, economic growth, and some kind of NATO Article 5 protection for Afghanistan.