2013: Decision Time For Afghan Air Force

[Steak-Sauce]

2013: Decision Time For Afghan Air Force

By SCOTT FONTAINE
Published: 21 Dec 2010 17:01


Afghanistan's air force likely will decide in 2013 whether to replace its aging, Soviet-era aircraft with Russian- or Western-manufactured planes and helicopters, the U.S. Air Force general overseeing the buildup said.

Brig. Gen. David Allvin, the commanding general of the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan, told reporters Tuesday the lifecycle of several of Afghanistan's fleet of 56 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft is ending soon. And while the plans call for more purchases of Russian-manufactured aircraft – including at least 128 more Mi-17 helicopters – the manufacturer of several future airframes hasn't been determined.

"We do have a look into the future as we approach 2014, 2015 to evaluate how these aircraft are holding up and perhaps evaluate some westernization program," he said via video teleconference from Kabul. "But it's really too early speculate on what that might be. In probably 2013, we'll have an idea of if we need to invest soon after that, and what type of asset we need."Article continued @ Defense News (http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5288074&c=MID&s=AIR)

The author made a small error: An-26 and An-32 are not cargo helicopters, but cargo aircraft.

[Berwickk]

I would think they would go the same way as they did with their small arms, with the Russians, its just easier to make the transition I would think, as there wouldn't be a huge difference, less re training needed = more support for the troops and less money spent on air craft that will perform the job just almost or just as well as the Western ones.

[Hyde]

Used F-16's...

[sepheronx]

I would think they would go the same way as they did with their small arms, with the Russians, its just easier to make the transition I would think, as there wouldn't be a huge difference, less re training needed = more support for the troops and less money spent on air craft that will perform the job just almost or just as well as the Western ones.

F-16's would be far cheaper now. Migs and Sukhois are no longer cheap, and I doubt Afghanistan has the money for them. If US would allow, then possibly Chinese jets.

[Berwickk]

F-16's would be far cheaper now. Migs and Sukhois are no longer cheap, and I doubt Afghanistan has the money for them. If US would allow, then possibly Chinese jets.
Ok i will accept in terms of fighters but helicopters, my previously stated points still stand for helicopters, iirc they are already using Hinds

[Steak-Sauce]

OK. How many of you have actually read the whole article?

Hint: it's not about fighter jets.

[JTP709]

I would think they would go the same way as they did with their small arms, with the Russians, its just easier to make the transition I would think, as there wouldn't be a huge difference, less re training needed = more support for the troops and less money spent on air craft that will perform the job just almost or just as well as the Western ones.

You know the ANA has adopted the M16A2, right?

[rgjbloke]

They could probably get some cheap harriers from Britain if they did wanted something to support the choppers and they want to take them now! :-D

[kalerab]

F-16's would be far cheaper now. Migs and Sukhois are no longer cheap, and I doubt Afghanistan has the money for them. If US would allow, then possibly Chinese jets.

ANAAF is in no need to buy any fighters, it has to replace its cargo and helicopter fleet. As far as that goes modernized Mi-8s or Mi-17s will get the job done for smaller price than US or EU made stuff and also there won´t be need for re-training of the personell. Attack helicopters - even after 2013 they still can use 24s modernized to Mi-35. And as for cargo - in mid 2010s there will be several interesting projects they can pick up from.

[The Dane]

They should invest in a mix of C-27 and C-130 when it comes to cargoplanes.. very suited for operations over there.

[Amur_Tiger]

OK. How many of you have actually read the whole article?

Hint: it's not about fighter jets.

I didn't need to read the whole article even to get that quick skim brought up some names that were definitely not aircraft. Maybe they just read the title?

Either way I think expanding their force of already present aircraft makes the most sense. Hinds, particularly more modern ones would bring back a fair degree of fear to the Taliban facing Afgan forces, also their dual role of transport and attack helicopter means they can better insert troops to clean up after hitting a target. For the lifting the C-27 seems to make sense so long as the price does, not sure the C-130 would be a smart move, it isn't cheap at 60 mil a pop and the number of times they'd need to airlift that sort of capacity would be fairly limited I'd imagine.

[deathil93]

They should invest in a mix of C-27 and C-130 when it comes to cargoplanes.. very suited for operations over there.
x2 on this one

If they need attack helos, I suggest (if we go for the American ones) used Cobras, plenty of them seating in storage (me thinks) plus I'm sure the US will give them a good deal. If we go for the Russian counterparts, than they should go for Mi8s or Mi24s (US funding+Russians will lower the price probably)