Afghanistan begins Black Hawk operations

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) flew its first operational mission with its recently acquired Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters on 7 May.
The mission, which was disclosed by the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, saw at least three helicopters fly in support of Afghan provincial elections.
The AAF is set to receive 159 Black Hawks by 2020 as the United States transitions the country’s armed forces over from its approximately 80 Russian-built Mil Mi-17 ‘Hip’ helicopters that are nearing the end of their service lives. To date, eight have been received over two batches in September 2017 and January 2018, with the first six pilots having graduated from training in November 2017.
Before entering into Afghan service, these former US Army aircraft first undergo a major refurbishment and upgrade.
janes

Afghanistan receive first Black Hawk helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) received on 18 September its first batch of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters.
The delivery, which was announced on the same day on the Facebook page of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing (EAW), saw two UH-60s arrive at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan aboard a US Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft.
The AAF is set to receive 53 Black Hawks as the United States transitions the country’s armed forces over from its approximately 80 Russian-built Mil Mi-17 'Hip' helicopters. These former US Army aircraft are undergoing a major refurbishment and upgrade effort prior to delivery to Afghanistan. No delivery timeline has been disclosed.
janes

The Afghan Air Force could receive four more Embraer A-29

The Afghan Air Force could receive four more Embraer A-29 light attack turboprop aircraft, adding to 20 already on contract, the US Air Force says in a new contracting notice.
The four aircraft would be assembled by Embraer at the company’s Jacksonville, Florida, facility, but the prime contractor could change.
Sierra Nevada teamed with Embraer to win the original bidding contest with Hawker Beechcraft, which is now part of Textron Aviation.
The USAF is considering other sources to procure up to four A-29s from Embraer for delivery to the Afghan Air Force, according to a “sources sought” notice posted on 6 October.
Sierra Nevada remains on contract to maintain the Afghan air force A-29 fleet to a mission capability rate of 80%, so any new prime contractor must continue working with the Sparks, Nevada-based company.
flightglobal

US Delivers Four A-29 Super Tucano To Afghanistan

Four A-29 turboprop light attack aircraft have been handed over to the Afghan government.
The planes arrived in Afghanistan on Jan. 15 after a long ferry flight from Moody Air Force Base.
pajhwok

Afghanistan to Receive 12 New MD530 Attack Helicopters

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has placed an order for 12 more MD530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopters fitted with a so-called Enhanced Mission Equipment Package (EMEP) for the 2016 fighting season, MD Helicopters, Inc. announced in a January 11 press release.
MD Helicopters already delivered 12 MD530F Cayuse Warrior aircraft to the AAF for the 2015 fighting season and has also converted five unarmed MH-6 Little Bird helicopters into MD530F light attack gunships, bringing the total number of Cayuse Warrior light attack aircraft in the AAF up to 16.
thediplomat

India to supply 4 MI 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan

The decks have been cleared for India to deliver four MI 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan this month, signaling a decisive shift in New Delhi's approach on supplying lethal offensive systems to Kabul.
Until now, India had confined itself only to providing training and non-lethal supplies to Afghanistan, largely due to Pakistan's sensitivities that were of concern to the Western coalition. Also, New Delhi could never conclusively decide on the risks of such a decision attracting terr ..
economictimes

Super Tucano deliveries to Afghanistan delayed until early 2016

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to receive its Embraer-Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft slightly later than anticipated, with the first units now set to arrive in-country in early 2016 rather than later this year as had been previously announced.
The delay was not explained by the US Air Force's (USAF's) 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, which disclosed the new schedule, the unit only saying that training of AAF personnel was continuing out of Moody Air Force Base (AFB) in Georgia.
The AAF is slated to receive 20 Super Tucanos (with an option for a further 20) to replace the Mil Mi-35 'Hind' as the service's primary close-air-support platform.
janes

Afghanistan rolls out armed MD 530F helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has rolled out into service its newly delivered armed MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F helicopters.
The roll-out ceremony took place at Kabul International Airport on 9 April, and saw one of the first six helicopters delivered perform a live-fire demonstration of its twin FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pods (HMPs).
The arrival of the armed MD 530Fs into AAF service will provide a timely boost to the government's close air support capabilities ahead of the 2015 'fighting season' in the country. Between 17 and 20 such helicopters are expected to be fully operational by early 2016.
Once in service, they will augment machine gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun- and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft that is due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The AAF already operates five MD 530F helicopters as trainers (six were delivered in 2011, but one was lost to an improvised explosive device in 2013).
janes

MD-530 helicopters to officially join Afghan Air Force on Thursday, 9th April

The McDonnell Douglas (MD-530) helicopters are set to officially join the Afghan Air Force (AAF) on coming Thursday.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Saturday that the helicopters will enter service during a ceremony which is scheduled on Thursday, 9th of April.
Armed Mi-17s and MD-530s give the Afghan Air Force six times the number of armed aircraft for Fighting Season 2015 as compared to last fighting season, which only employed five Mi-35s.
Around 17 of the Afghan Air Force’s MD-530F helicopter will be upgraded under the contract which is expected to be completed early next year.
MD-530F helicopters are designed for high altitude and/or hot weather operations, where thinner air costs helicopters some of their lift.
khaama

Afghanistan receives first armed MD 530

The first of 20 armed MD 530 helicopters for the Afghan Air Force arrived in-country ahead of the 2015 'fighting season'.
The first six MD 530F at an undisclosed location - most likely Shindand Air Base in Herat Province, where the current trainer fleet is located - aboard a Boeing 747 freighter the previous night.
These helicopters will now be reassembled over the coming weeks before being pressed into fire support for the Afghan National Security Forces.
The armed MD 530s will operate alongside the machine-gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft, due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The AAF already operates five MD 530F helicopters as trainers. The armed helicopters are fitted with M3 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) machine gun. .
janes

Afghan Military to Receive A-29 Super Tucanos in December

The first of 20 A-29 Super Tucano for the Afghan Military, are expected to arrive in December.
The U.S. Air Force's program to provide A-29s to the Afghan military has been caught up in long-running contract disputes and delays in the training of Afghan Air Force air and ground crews, leaving the Afghan military overly-reliant on the U.S. for close air support in combat..
The first of the 20 A-29s should begin arriving in December. A few more will arrive next year but the majority of the order won't be fielded until 2017 and 2018 under the current schedule.
The Afghans also have a few MD530 "Little Bird" helicopters which can provide some close air support, but the MD530s are also caught up in a contract dispute.
military

Afghanistan to receive additional armed MD 530F helos

Afghanistan Air Force is to receive 20 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters to provide additional fire-support to the country's security forces.
The United States is to donate the 20 armed MD 530F helicopters in addition to those unarmed platforms already fielded as trainers.
Afghanistan has five MD 530F trainer helicopters in service. It would seem that a further eight platforms have now been added to this follow-on order.
The MD 530Fs will be equipped with gun pods and rockets, and will be armoured to protect the two crew members. The weapons package will comprise the FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP), featuring the company's M3 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) machine gun. This HMP, which will be carried on external weapons planks, has a rate of fire of 1,100 rds/min and a 400-round ammunition box.
To accommodate the extra weight of this equipment, the helicopters will be upgraded with high-capacity landing gear.
Work to weaponise these helicopters will commence shortly. Deliveries to Afghanistan are expected to begin later in the year. Once in service, these armed MD 530F platforms will provide fire-support alongside the machine-gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft, due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The MD 530F is the latest in a line of MD 500-series helicopters that trace their lineage back to the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse of the Vietnam War.
janes

Afghanistan to weaponise MD 530F helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to arm its MD 530F helicopters to give them a dual role as both training and close-support platforms.
The five helicopters in service and the 12 recently ordered will be equipped with a Mission Equipment Package (MEP) under a USD44.2 million contract awarded by the US Army on behalf of the AAF.
Weapons package will comprise the FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pod , featuring the company's M3 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) machine gun. This HMP, which will be carried on external weapons planks, has a rate of fire of 1,100 rds/min and a 400-round ammunition box. Other enhancements will include the Rhode & Schwarz M3AR tactical radio communications system, the Robertson Fuel System, and Kinetic Defense ballistic armour panels.
janes

Afghanistan orders additional MD 530F helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has exercised an option for additional MD 530F Little Bird helicopters.
The service will acquire a further 12 primary trainer helicopters. Deliveries are set to be complete on 29 September 2015.
janes

First A-29 Super Tucano for Afghan Air Force Delivered for Training Mission

The first of 20 A-29 Super Tucano for Afghanistan Air Force arrived at Moody AFB on Sept. 26, in preparation for the Afghanistan pilot and maintenance training mission.
The A-29 is a light air support training aircraft that will be used to train 30 Afghan pilots and 90 Afghan maintainers as part of a requirement from the International Security Assistance Force to conduct training outside of Afghanistan.
The need for the A-29 comes as the current Afghan air force LAS aircraft, the Mi-35 attack helicopter, reaches the end of its service life in January 2016.
af.mil

India to deliver two Cheetah helicopters to Afghanistan

According to reports, India will deliver two helicopters to Afghan security forces next month, as part of its support to reconstruct the Afghan national security forces.
Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Cheetah choppers would be used for reconnaissance purposes.
India is also considering to send its military trainers to the newly opened Afghan National Army Officers Academy apart from deploying technicians to run an old military hardware maintenance facility in the country.
New Delhi is also studying the fresh proposal from president Haid Karzai’s administration to provide lethal weapons to Afghan security forces.
Currently India is providing training to 350 Afghan army officers, and around 1,400 Afghan National Army officers were trained in Indian institutions since 2003.
khaama

Pentagon Says It Won’t Buy More Russian Copters

The Pentagon won’t buy more Mi-17 helicopters from Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned export company, after completing a $572 million contract signed in June.
There are not plans to purchase additional Mi-17s from Rosoboronexport beyond the 86 already purchased for the Afghanistan military.
The decision means that the Defense Department won’t continue to seek $345 million that it had requested to buy 15 more of the helicopters.
bloomberg

Afghans take delivery of US C-130 transport planes

Afghanistan took delivery on Wednesday of two C-130 transport aircraft from the United States,.
Afghanistan will get another two C-130 by the end of next year.
The two planes were turned over during a ceremony at Kabul airport. They will replace 16 smaller Italian-made transport craft that were grounded because of maintenance problems.
Afghanistan's air force is mainly made up of Russian-made transport helicopters and a handful of Russian attack helicopters.
thesouthern.com

Afghanistan to receive C-130 aircraft from US Air Force

After nearly a year of relying on helicopters for the bulk of its air cargo transportation, the Afghan Air Force will receive its first C-130H Hercules transports early next month.

The U.S. Air Force is slated to give the Afghans four C-130H aircraft. Two of those aircraft will be delivered on Oct. 10, the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan announced on Wednesday.

stripes

U..S. Congres removes funding of the Super Tucano and Mi-17 from the Fiscal 2014 defense spending bill

The US Senate appropriations committee has passed a $594 billion defence spending bill for fiscal year 2014 that eliminates funding to buy Sierra Nevada/Embraer Super Tucanos and Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters for Afghanistan's military.
flightglobal