Monday, July 13, 2015
Kabul (BNA) The commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission in Afghanistan Gen. John F. Campbell said NATO is looking for mid and long term to build the capabilities of the Afghan Air Force.
Speaking to reporters during a media round table in Resolute Support Headquarters in Kabul on Saturday, Gen. Campbell said building an air force is very hard; it takes long time to build the pilots and maintainers.
Gen. Campbell admitted that work on the Afghan Air Force rehabilitation started late but he emphasized that he is impressed with the Afghan security forces where they are at the moment.
He said the Afghan Air Force is currently equipped with the M-i-17 helicopters which add to the capabilities of the Afghan forces as the helicopters are capable of firing rockets and machine gun.
Gen. Campbell also added that the MD-530 helicopters will also become operational with the Afghan Air Force in the near future which will further boost the air force capabilities.
On the fixed capabilities of the Afghan Air Force, Gen. Campbell said A-29 Super Tucanos would be added to the Afghan Air Force fleet which will have the capability to drop two 500 pound bombs but it will take time until the planes are fully operational as the pilots are currently undergoing training in United States.
He said NATO is looking taking a hard look as Afghanistan is trying to reach to the region to add more helicopters, specifically the Mi-35s to the Afghan Air Force fleet.
On the short plans, Gen. Campbell said NATO is working to build the A-TACS which are the Afghans who are trained to get into the ground, spot and target and coordinated with the units to provide close air support. The Afghan Air Force received the fist six armed MD-530s from United States earlier in the month of March this year.
Pentagon awarded MD Helicopters Inc. a maximum $44.2 million firm-fixed-price contract last year to develop and provide an armament package for the MD-530F helicopters that were already supplied to the Afghan Air Force.
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.
