The Elusive Quest For Afghan Air Power: Exploring The Fighter Jet Conundrum

Afghanistan does not have fighter jets. The Afghan Air Force has a fleet of 162 aircraft, including helicopters and propeller-driven planes such as the A-29 Super Tucano and AC-208 Combat Caravan. The U.S. has spent $8 billion to deploy strike aircraft and helicopters for the Afghan Air Force, but these do not include fighter jets. The Afghan Air Force faces several challenges, including personnel shortages, a lack of on-site expertise, and the need for remote maintenance support.

The Afghan Air Force's aircraft

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has relied on U.S. support to maintain its aircraft. The AAF has a fleet of aircraft that includes the A-29 Super Tucano, a single-propeller, weaponized plane, and a mix of American and Russian helicopters. The AAF's helicopter fleet includes the UH-60 Black Hawk, the Mi-17, and the Mi-35. The AAF also has C-130 Hercules transport planes.

The AAF was established in 2006 as the Afghan National Army Air Corps and was renamed the Afghan Air Force in 2010. Since 2007, the U.S.-led Combined Air Power Transition Force has aimed to rebuild and modernize the AAF. The AAF possessed 161 aircraft in 2021 and had over 7,500 personnel in 2020.

The U.S. has supplied the AAF with aircraft, including the UH-60 Black Hawk, which replaced the Mi-17. The Mi-17 was easier for Afghan pilots to fly and maintain due to their decades of experience with the aircraft. However, the UH-60 Black Hawk is harder to maintain and lacks the high-altitude capability of the Mi-17. The AAF also received 20 C-27A tactical transports from Italy, delivered by 2012 but no longer in service.

The AAF has also received aircraft from other countries, including three A-29 Super Tucanos from Brazil and four Mi-24V 'Hind' attack helicopters from Belarus via India in 2018-19.

The AAF has faced challenges in maintaining its aircraft due to the withdrawal of U.S. contractors, who provided maintenance support. The AAF has had to rely on remote support via Zoom and phone calls, and aircraft requiring heavy repair have been shipped to facilities outside Afghanistan.

Despite these challenges, the AAF continues to play a crucial role in supporting Afghan ground forces through airstrikes, resupplying outposts, and evacuating the wounded.

The Taliban's advances

In August 2021, the Taliban claimed control of Kandahar and Herat, the country's second and third-largest cities, respectively. This marked their biggest military victories since they began their broad offensive in May of that year. The fall of these major cities was a significant blow to the Afghan government and a clear signal that Kabul, the capital, was at risk.

The Taliban's advance across the nation was staggering in both speed and scale, with the insurgents capturing half of Afghanistan's provincial capitals and controlling about two-thirds of the country. The Afghan government forces, despite years of U.S. training and support, offered little resistance, with mass surrenders further accelerating the Taliban's progress.

The United States and its allies responded by sending thousands of troops to Kabul to help evacuate embassy staff and local Afghans who had assisted the coalition forces. The situation highlighted the vulnerability of the Afghan government and the disintegration of its military, fueling the notion that a Taliban takeover was inevitable.

The Taliban's swift and violent advances sparked recriminations among Afghans and criticism of President Biden's decision to withdraw U.S. troops. The Taliban's military blitz across the country did not appear to be slowing, and the group showed no signs of committing to a peaceful resolution, despite international calls for an accelerated peace process.

The future of Afghanistan hung in the balance as the Taliban continued to make gains, with the United States and its allies facing limited options to prevent a potential collapse of the Afghan government and a takeover by the Taliban.

The US's withdrawal

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan began in April 2021 when President Joe Biden decided to proceed with a full withdrawal of US troops by September 11, 2021. This decision came after two decades of US military presence in the country, which began in 2001 with Operation Enduring Freedom, a bombing campaign against Taliban forces.

The withdrawal was not without its challenges and difficulties. Firstly, the US faced logistical hurdles in terms of evacuating personnel and equipment. In August 2021, US troops vacated Bagram Airfield, which had been the center of military operations since 2001. The remaining US military presence was then centered in Kabul, where the focus was on securing the transit point for US personnel and Afghan translators who had worked with the US military.

Secondly, the withdrawal of US contractors left the Afghan Air Force struggling to maintain its aircraft. The Afghan Air Force relied heavily on contractors for maintenance, and their departure led to a significant decline in mission-capable aircraft. This issue was further exacerbated by a shortage of personnel, with an inspector general report finding a lack of qualified pilots, copilots, and mission system operators.

The US withdrawal also had political implications, both domestically and internationally. Domestically, the withdrawal was a partisan issue, with Republicans largely criticizing the Biden administration's handling of the situation. Internationally, the US faced challenges in securing over-the-horizon support capabilities due to the lack of permission to use military bases in neighboring countries.

Finally, the withdrawal of US troops and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government led to a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in Afghanistan. Sanctions and the freezing of Afghan central bank assets further exacerbated the situation, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition among the population.

Overall, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was a complex and challenging process that had significant political, military, and humanitarian consequences.

The Afghan Air Force's maintenance issues

The Afghan Air Force has faced a multitude of maintenance issues over the years, with the situation worsening after the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops and contractors from Afghanistan.

Dependence on Foreign Contractors

One of the main issues is the Afghan Air Force's heavy reliance on American and foreign contractors for repairs, maintenance, fueling, and training. The departure of these contractors, along with U.S. troops, has left a significant void, with Afghan forces struggling to maintain their aircraft. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of mission-capable aircraft and has affected the Afghan Air Force's ability to support ground troops.

Complex Maintenance Requirements

The situation has been further exacerbated by the introduction of complex aircraft such as the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, which are harder to maintain than the previously used Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters. The Black Hawks have long logistic tails and complex maintenance requirements that Afghan crews cannot handle without external support.

Shortage of Qualified Personnel

The Afghan Air Force also faces a shortage of qualified personnel, including instructor pilots, copilots, and mission system operators. This issue has been further exacerbated by the departure of foreign contractors, who provided essential maintenance and training services.

Impact of Taliban Activities

Additionally, the Taliban's resurgence and targeted assassination campaigns against Afghan pilots have created a sense of fear and insecurity within the Afghan Air Force. This has likely impacted the morale and retention of qualified personnel.

Political and Strategic Challenges

Political infighting and factionalism within the Afghan Air Force have also contributed to operational challenges. The competing interests of different factions have affected the unity and effectiveness of the force.

Moreover, the mountainous terrain and harsh climate of Afghanistan pose significant operational difficulties for the Afghan Air Force. The rugged terrain interferes with communication between pilots and air controllers, and extreme weather conditions can hinder aircraft operations.

The US's post-withdrawal support

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has been a highly debated topic, with critics questioning the decision to leave the war-torn country. However, the Biden administration has defended the move, stating that the US had achieved its objectives in the country. In his address to the public, President Biden asserted that the US had gone to Afghanistan with two goals: to get the terrorists who attacked on 9/11 and to deliver justice to Osama Bin Laden. With Bin Laden's death and the degradation of terrorist threats, Biden believes that the US had accomplished its mission.

Despite the withdrawal of troops, the US has continued to provide support to Afghanistan, particularly in maintaining the capacity of the Afghan Air Force. The US has provided aircraft such as the A-29 Super Tucano and AC-208 Combat Caravan, which are propeller-driven planes capable of firing laser-guided munitions at ground targets. Additionally, the US has sent UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to replace the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters, which were phased out due to sanctions on Russia. However, the shift to Black Hawks has posed maintenance challenges for the Afghan Air Force, as these helicopters are harder to maintain and lack the high-altitude capabilities of their Russian counterparts.

To address these challenges, the US has provided remote technical support, with American forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar assisting in aircraft maintenance. The US has also continued to provide financial assistance, pilot training, and intelligence sharing. Despite these efforts, the Afghan Air Force has struggled to maintain its fleet, with about one-third of its aircraft grounded due to a lack of spare parts.

The US has also maintained diplomatic efforts to support Afghanistan. In July 2021, the US led meetings in Doha, Qatar, with representatives from Russia, China, Afghanistan's regional neighbors, European powers, and the United Nations. These meetings aimed to bring global diplomatic pressure on the Taliban, warning of diplomatic and economic isolation if they reconquered Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the US has continued to provide civilian and humanitarian assistance, with a particular focus on supporting the rights of women and girls in the country. The US has also worked to relocate Afghan nationals who worked alongside US forces, offering them visas and relocation to the US or third countries.

While the US has provided post-withdrawal support, the future of Afghanistan remains uncertain. The Taliban has made significant gains, capturing several provincial capitals and posing a constant threat to the Afghan government. The Afghan Air Force, despite US assistance, faces challenges in maintaining its aircraft and conducting effective operations.

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