US to give 146 warplanes to new Afghan air force

US to give 146 warplanes to new Afghan air force

KABUL - The United States government decided to give 146 planes to Afghanistan's National Army air force by 2016, a spokesman for Afghan Ministry of Defense (MOD) said Wednesday.

The ministry praised the decision, adding that more warplanes should be given to Afghanistan in order to protect the country from any kind of threat."There is an agreement that US would give us 146 warplanes, but we are not satisfied with this. The number should increase. The planes would be used in any kind of situation," MOD spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zaher Azimi said.

Strengthening the abilities of Afghanistan's air force could play a vital role in combating insurgency through the country and protecting the nation from any outside threat.According to Azimi, a clearing offensive named "Omid" will be launched by the Afghan National Army, aimed to clear insurgents throughout the country. The operation will focus on southern and eastern provinces that have witnessed insurgency throughout the year.

He also added that more than 85 percent of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are being brought to Afghanistan from neighboring countries.

146 planes are not enough as a donaton? Afghans are going paki way or what?

What kind of planes will they get anyway? A few F16s will set some cats among the pigeons.

The Afghan army is so nascent that it very recently conducted its first
independent artillerry fire

Afghan artillery fires first operational rounds in Paktika | ISAF - International Security Assistance Force

So flying and maintaining planes is likely to happen only after 5 years atleast

Not sure which types, it could be basically transport planes and some training/attack helis. If AF gets any F-14/F-16 types
then Pakis would feel insecure.

AF has total of 112 aircraft as for now including MI-17,MI-35 helis.

Afghan Air Force

not bad good step more secure afghan is good for usa

He he he good step against Pakistan.

These are mainly logistic air-crafts..

And Attack turbo props for COIN mission..

can anyone throw some light on the specs of the WARPLANES

all will go into taliban's hands once taliban conquers afghanistan .

With the way things are going, Taliban may not be able to beat the Afghan Army unless Pakistan interferes.

US will eventually fund fighter jets later on. Right now they are stuck with transport and support aircraft while being backed by the USAF. I wonder if USAF will stay back for some time.

Afghan Army will be over 250000 strong by the time US leaves.

You disagree with the move! According to you it shouldnt be done due to Taliban`s fear factor. Absurd. Think this way, that more strong the Afghan National Security will be, lesser will be the chances for Taliban to take over Afghanistan once again.

It's good to see the Afghan military growing stronger day by day!

I guess this will be more to do with helis coming from Russia rather than F-16s and the like.

There is a greater need for operational helis than attack figher jets because the Afghan armed forces will be spending most of the decade fighting off the remnants of the insurgency rather than dogfights with foreign fighter jets.

these 146 warplanes include only transport helicopters, turbo-props (Super Tucano, US has put this deal on hold and outcome will eventually depend on Brazil MMRCA decision) and trainers .... no Jets ..

^^^^ Well that is expected. Give the Afghans what they need.

At present, there is no point in given jets. There is no point in carpet bombing Afghan villages like the Pakistani Air Force does in FATA. That just creates more rebels and resentment. With helis they will be able to transport troops in and injured personnel out.