Afghan Air Force Received Four Warplanes From U.S. (Video, Photos)

On September 17, the U.S. transferred four A-29 Super Tocano warplanes to the Afghan Air Force (AAF) during a ceremony in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The ceremony was attended by Afghanstan’s Minister of Defense Asadullah Khalid as well as senior officers of the AAF and the NATO’s Resolute Support Mission.

“As we receive these planes, they are a message that NATO is committed to the Afghan Forces,” said defense minister Asadullah Khalid. “During these important times this a good example of their continued cooperation, and shows this will continue until the defeat of terrorism in the country and the region.”

“NATO’s objective in Afghanistan has always been to deny safe havens for international terrorism,” said Lt. Gen. John Deedrick, commander of NATO’s Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. “The best way to do this is to generate competent, trained and professional Afghan security forces which can maintain security independently. As we work toward peace, the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission continues to work closely with all branches of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.”

The U.S. has supplied the AAF with 18 A-29s warplanes since 2016. The supply of six additional warplanes is scheduled in February of 2021.

The Department of Defense ordered 26 A-29s for the AAF from the U.S.-based Sierra Nevada Corporation, SNC, and its partner Brazilian Embraer Defense and Security in a $1.808 billion contract.

The A-29 Super Tocano that is being used by the AAF as a counter-insurgency aircraft is easy to fly and to maintain. It is also considered to be one of the cheapest warplanes to operate. Afghan A-29s are armed with Paveway laser-guided bombs, which enable them to carry out pinpoint airstrikes.

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Fog of War

How generous .

Ivan Freely

It wouldn’t matter. Fuel would never reach the airfield.

Lone Ranger

Oh how cute.
A few WWII era P-51 or Corsairs would be better.

Arthur Deodat Jr.

Luftwaffe :-)

Lone Ranger

Than a few BF-109s ;)

Arthur Deodat Jr.

What about few shermans? They need armour as well.

Lone Ranger

T-34 or Panzer IV :)

Peter Moy

How about a squadron of Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmoviks, the version with two 37 mm. guns?

Lone Ranger

Most excellent, the first flying tank CAS plane ;)
You have a good taste ;)

Peter Moy

Good taste in weapons but when considering women, I only talk to the ugly ones. Check out that song from Jimmy Soul – “If You Want To Be Happy.” It’s on YouTube. The lyrics say it all.

Lone Ranger

I feel you man, I feel you…
Same story here, but instead of ugly I usually pick psycho passive agressives…
I cant help it…
?

PZIVJ

“The Super Tucano boasts a top speed of 229 miles per hour (the P-51 Mustang could hit 437)”

James Adams

It is actually pretty advanced. if you look you can see the surveillance equipment and bombs etc. Because there will be no air to air combat it would be perfect for what the ANA needs..

Sauron

This Brazilian machine might actually be a good asset in Afghani terrain. Currently best plane for its role.

Fog of War

What role is that ? Fighting the Taliban ?

MN

Counter-insurgency. Exactly. You are correct.

Such airplane was designed as a air close combat suport in aerial areas not contested. If the are is contested (other air forces present) you will have to use expensive jets to achieve aerial supremacy.

Once you reach the point you are no longer contested in air, there is no point in keeping tremendously expensive aircraft in air to combat irregular armies.

The cost per hour of an A-29 Super Tucano is about $430–500/hour while a F-35 cost about $25,000 per hour.

You do not win a war only with bullets. But with a spreadsheet and matematics

Fog of War

Fair answer , but read my response to Sauron below as it addresses you point also.

Sauron

google fighter jet types, read few articles, that shall most likely answer your question

Fog of War

I was being sarcastic. The Taliban have already won the war, and can only lose the peace if they dont demand full withdrawal of ALL western assets. Therefore, whats the point of these planes as they most likely end up under Taliban control anyway ? .

Sauron

if thats what Afghani people want, then why not? its not like they will need to ride horses forever. why not try flying from time to time

StafJustice

If it’s the best plane for it role…
Why didn’t the Americans use it to fight the Taliban?
But instead, f-16s and B 2 bombers?

Gregory Louis

You would then be going against the military industrial complex…

Sauron

Because its cheap and doesn’t feed the military industrial complex

cliff

They should send them the A-10 as far am concerned the industrial complex want th le military to replace them so they could profit more on building new warplanes then upgrading them.

Simon Ndiritu

The Afghans were offered crop dusters for fighter-jets, Hilarious!!!

MN

A-29 Super Tucano is the world leader Counter Insurgency airplane. With costs per hour of only about U$ 400 to 500, it is the ideal plane for close combat in not contested air.

Once you reach the point you are no longer contested in air, there is no point in keeping tremendously expensive aircraft in air to combat irregular armies.

Beyond that it can stay in air for a long time, giving air cover to troops in ground and inteligence also.

A F-35 costs about $25,000 per hour to fly.

You do not win a war only with bullets. But with a spreadsheet and matematics

igybundy

ah you know the US supplied thousands of stinger missiles to terrorists right? Also they have RPG’s that can take out this clown force.. and even ATGM’s..

Shawn

I guess these r good enough to hit Taliban positions but just barely.

Realistically these can’t carry much of a payload and even stinger missiles or AA fire can take them down

Better than nothing but some drones or even those f-5s that Iran builds with modern features are 10x better

Антон С

Not many people know this, that’s why there are so many ironic (though senseless) statements. Cheap plane for poor army, this is quite usual. Same as light tanks in Africa and S.America, because few countries there have modern main battle tanks or anti-tank helicopters. Uganda bought Su-30, now it’s the main air power in the region.) Angola bought used Su-30, but it’s still very good for them. Same as light CAS plane for Afghanistan.

igybundy

Its a joke right?? tell me its a joke..

Icarus Tanović

Wtf? Hahahahahaha, brand new Yak, Messerschimits and Spitfires. Bwahahahahahaha this is ridiculous.

World_Eye

from ww2

James Adams

It is actually pretty advanced. if you look you can see the surveillance equipment and bombs etc. Because there will be no air to air combat it would be perfect for what the ANA needs