159 Black Hawk Helicopter to Afghanistan Air Force.

WolfPack86

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Afghan Air Force receives first Black Hawk helicopters
KABUL (Reuters) - The Afghan Air Force took delivery of its first four U.S.-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters on Tuesday as part of a planned replacement of its aging fleet of Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters, officials said.

The U.S. plans to supply a total of 159 Black Hawks to Afghanistan in the coming years as it boosts the capacity of the AAF, considered one of the best-performing parts of the Afghan Defence and Security Forces.

“The first Afghan Air Force UH-60s arrived today in Kandahar. They will help further develop a capable and sustainable AAF,” the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said.


The robust Soviet-era Mi-17 is the workhorse of the AAF, accounting for around half of all sorties in recent months and is very popular with Afghan pilots.

As well as moving troops and casualties and flying in supplies to areas difficult to reach by road, the helicopters can also be fitted with weapons for close air support to units on the ground.

However their age makes them increasingly difficult to maintain and replace and they are to be phased out over the coming years and replaced with refurbished Black Hawks, one of the mainstays of the U.S. Army’s helicopter force.


According to a report in July by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan, a U.S. Congressional watchdog, 19 of the AAF’s 46-strong Mi-17 fleet were unusable because they were undergoing overhaul or repair.

In addition to operational considerations, the Pentagon has also long faced political pressure from Congress to switch spending to U.S.-built aircraft.

Strengthening the Afghan Air Force is a central part of President Ashraf Ghani’s four year plan to improve Afghan security forces which have struggled to contain the Taliban insurgency since the NATO-led coalition backing the government ended its main combat operations in 2014.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...es-first-black-hawk-helicopters-idUSKCN1BU160
 

ezsasa

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159 black hawk helicopters to Afghanistan air force that huge numbers.
On one hand they talk of pulling out, on the other hand they provide equipment which requires extensive american involvement for maintenance.
 

Flying Dagger

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On one hand they talk of pulling out, on the other hand they provide equipment which requires extensive american involvement for maintenance.
Pulling out only means from confronting Taliban directly. They'll continue to be there and provide support to Afghan Forces.

Previously they bought Russian stuff for Afghan forces due to cost and other issues. Now domestic pressure led them to provide their own old helis .
 

ezsasa

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Pulling out only means from confronting Taliban directly. They'll continue to be there and provide support to Afghan Forces.

Previously they bought Russian stuff for Afghan forces due to cost and other issues. Now domestic pressure led them to provide their own old helis .
And there is one Mi-17 crashing almost every month.
 

Armand2REP

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How much military aid are they getting to afford that many helicopters?
 

Flying Dagger

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Afghanistan air force black hawk helicopters.
It's a very elegant machine with good fire capability the extra length compared to Mi 17 does the trick but Mi 17 are beast in comparison to this and easier to maintain and operate.

How much military aid are they getting to afford that many helicopters?
7-8 billion dollar assistance to buy helis training maintenance cost.
 

Aaj ka hero

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It's a very elegant machine with good fire capability the extra length compared to Mi 17 does the trick but Mi 17 are beast in comparison to this and easier to maintain and operate.



7-8 billion dollar assistance to buy helis training maintenance cost.
Yes, congressmen supporting their constituency anyway ARE THESE NEW ONES?
 

Flying Dagger

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Yes, congressmen supporting their constituency anyway ARE THESE NEW ONES?
Not new American Airforce/Pentagon withdraw older airframe for upgrade and give it to their allies and other agencies . They bought them from their own store.

Like we are phasing out INSAS from army and they are heading towards our police personnel now.


Soon you will see many of their allies getting surplus of F 16s for free as aid or getting sold at very economical price.
 

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