Afghan Airfields: A Strategic Legacy

Afghanistan has several air bases, including Bagram Air Base, Shindand Air Base, and Kandahar International Airport. Bagram Air Base, formerly the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan, was evacuated by U.S. forces in July 2021 and handed over to the Afghan government. It is now under the control of the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Shindand Air Base is a co-base shared between the U.S. and NATO countries, while Kandahar International Airport was operated by the U.S. until 2006 and is now under NATO administration. These air bases have played a significant role in military operations and the War in Afghanistan.

Bagram Air Base, formerly the largest US military base in Afghanistan

The base has two concrete runways, the main one measuring 3,602 by 46 metres, capable of handling large military aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy. The base also has three large hangars, a control tower, numerous support buildings, and various housing areas. There are over 100 parking spots for fighter jets, with blast walls protecting each aircraft.

Bagram Air Base was expanded and modernised by the Americans. It was the nerve centre of all US military operations in Afghanistan, coordinating air assets and providing logistical support to ground troops. The base was able to house 10,000 troops in 2009 and had become the size of a small town by 2007, with traffic jams and many commercial shops.

The base also included a hospital with 50 beds, three operating theatres, and a modern dental clinic. There were numerous dining facilities, including Pizza Hut, Subway, an Afghan restaurant, and Green Beans coffee shops.

In 2021, the US vacated Bagram Air Base as part of its withdrawal from Afghanistan, handing it over to Afghan forces. The departure was controversial, as US forces left in the night without notifying the base's new commander, leaving the facilities vulnerable to looting.

Shindand Air Base, a co-base shared between the US and NATO

Shindand Air Base is located in the western part of Afghanistan, in the Shindand District of Herat Province. It is approximately seven miles (or 11 kilometres) northeast of the city of Shindand, with the nearest town being Sabzwar City, seven miles away. The base is strategically important due to its proximity to Iran, being only 75 miles (or 121 kilometres) from the Iranian border.

The base was originally built by the Soviet Armed Forces in 1961 and was heavily used during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the base came under the control of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, before being abandoned in 1997 when the Taliban took control of the country.

In 2002, coalition forces bombed the base in their search for al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. The runway sustained significant damage during this time. In August 2004, the base was recaptured by the Afghan National Army's 3rd Brigade, Central Corps, with advisors from the US Army. The base was then refurbished, and by 2009, the runway was functional again, accommodating large aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules transport plane.

Shindand Air Base has since tripled in size and is now the second-largest airfield in Afghanistan. It is capable of housing over 100 military aircraft. The base is used by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for humanitarian and medical flights, as well as training. The US Air Force's 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group is also located at Shindand, supporting NATO training missions and training the Afghan Air Force.

The CIA has reportedly used the base for surveillance missions over Iran and Afghanistan, including the use of the RQ-170 drone.

In terms of security, Shindand Air Base has a perimeter fence with 52 guard towers, constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Base security consists of a mix of Army and Air Force personnel, as well as Afghan security contractors.

Life at the base includes routine urinalysis for personnel, and a requirement to be armed at all times outside living quarters, except during physical training or showering. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited for US military members. Mail services are available, and a post office is on-site, but packages must be inspected before mailing. Internet and email services are provided for communication. Additionally, barber and beauty salons, as well as dental and medical services, are accessible.

Kandahar International Airport, one of the largest airports in Afghanistan

Kandahar International Airport, also known as Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, is located in the Daman District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan. It is one of the largest airports in Afghanistan, serving as the nation's second main international airport. The airport is located about 16 km southeast of Kandahar City and was built by the Americans in the early 1960s.

The airport has a rich history, playing a significant role during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. It served as a logistical facility for Soviet forces and as a base for launching airstrikes against local Mujahideen groups. After the Soviet withdrawal, the airport remained under the control of the Afghan government until 1992, when local military commanders took control.

Kandahar International Airport has undergone significant repairs and expansion since 2007. It is capable of accommodating up to 250 aircraft of different sizes and can be used for both military and civilian flights. The military section is maintained by the Afghan Armed Forces, while the Afghan National Police provide security inside and outside the civilian terminal.

The airport was once a major base for U.S. and NATO forces, housing an estimated 30,000 troops and contractors. In 2021, the U.S. forces left Kandahar Airfield, transferring it to the Afghan security forces.

The airport is known for its challenging landing conditions during the day due to its colour blending with the surrounding sand and the dusty environment. However, at night, the airport is actively lit and easily spotted as it is not surrounded by any human communities.

Camp Dwyer Marine Base, a Forward Operating Base to combat insurgent activity

Camp Dwyer Marine Base is a United States Marine Corps installation and airfield located in the Helmand River Valley in Afghanistan. The base was originally established as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) to combat insurgent activity in the Helmand Valley, a hotbed of terrorist activity.

The Helmand area of Afghanistan is often referred to as "Hell Man" by American soldiers and marines due to its harsh weather conditions, with summer temperatures reaching peaks of 120 degrees and higher. The area is also subject to sudden sandstorms that can reduce visibility to zero in a matter of seconds. The unpredictable weather, coupled with the rugged terrain, makes the area relatively uninhabited and ideal for insurgent forces.

Camp Dwyer was initially intended to be a temporary base. However, its strategic value became quickly apparent, and it was expanded into a permanent installation in 2009. The base is named after British Lance Bombardier James Dwyer, who was killed in 2006 when his vehicle struck an anti-tank mine while on patrol in southern Helmand Province.

The primary mission of Camp Dwyer is to secure the area of southern Helmand Province from Taliban and insurgent activities. Marines at the base are also tasked with providing logistical, air, ground, and communication support to US, Coalition, and Afghan forces in the area. In addition to combat operations, the marines at Camp Dwyer have worked to stem the flow of drug trafficking and shut down child trafficking operations, directly putting themselves in harm's way.

Camp Dwyer is set up as a fully functioning Marine Corps outpost, capable of working in conjunction with Afghan security forces to patrol the dangerous Helmand River Valley. The base has new permanent structures, but most accommodations are housed in temporary tents and trailers. Despite the harsh conditions, the base does offer some amenities for its marines, including air conditioning, satellite internet access, a laundry facility, showers, and a gym.

The 31st Combat Support Hospital at Camp Dwyer treats injured marines and Afghans in the southern Helmand Province area. The hospital is staffed by Navy doctors and corpsmen and is equipped with an adjacent airfield, allowing injured personnel to receive immediate treatment.

Camp Leatherneck, the home base for most US Marine Corps operations in Afghanistan

Camp Leatherneck, located in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, was a 1,600-acre United States Marine Corps base. The site was mostly in Washir District and was conjoined with Camp Bastion, the main British military base in Afghanistan, and Camp Shorabak, initially the main Afghan section. The three sites were joined under the name of 'Camp Shorabak' in 2014.

Camp Leatherneck was master-planned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Europe District FEST-A Team from Wiesbaden, Germany, in October/November 2008. The base was designed to house troops for a majority of the estimated 26,000 additional U.S. troops being deployed to Afghanistan. The base layout was designed in modular 'blocks', so the base could have forces on the ground as construction continued in adjacent compartments. Camp Leatherneck was built in a modular fashion to maximize the efficiency of construction locations to provide housing and workspace as surge forces flowed into the theatre.

The base officially opened in May 2009 and was home to 4,000 Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and civilian contractors. The base was protected by earth-filled Hesco barriers, and all personnel slept in large 100-man tents. The base went through a series of rapid expansions and improvements, courtesy of Naval Mobile Construction Battalions. The base could eventually house 20,000 Marines and contractors, many of whom lived in single-story prefabricated climate-controlled buildings.

One of the largest tactical upgrades to Camp Leatherneck was the addition of a 3,828-yard runway at the adjacent Camp Bastion. This large runway allowed for large planes like 747s and C-5 Galaxy Cargo planes to land in the area, greatly easing the logistics of supplying such a massive number of troops.

Significant quality-of-life improvements were also made to Camp Leatherneck. Initially, the base had a single small and often overcrowded gym that was open 24 hours a day. Eventually, the base boasted four gyms, each with a specific function: a general-purpose gym, a cardio centre, weight training, and a CrossFit-specific gym. The base also added a second chow hall to decrease wait times and expand menu options.

Despite the remote location of Camp Leatherneck, the United States Marine Corps went to great lengths to increase the comfort and operational abilities of the base. However, there were no plans to upgrade the base to include amenities like fast-food outlets and coffee shops.

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