Airpower Over Afghanistan: Examining The Us Air Force's Presence

The number of airmen in Afghanistan has fluctuated over the years, influenced by various factors such as political changes, military strategies, and international interventions.

In the late 1980s, during the Soviet-Afghan War, the Afghan Air Force had approximately 7,000 personnel. This number included both Afghan officers and foreign advisors from Cuba and Czechoslovakia.

Following the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of the Najibullah government in 1992, the Afghan Air Force disintegrated, with its aircraft numbers dwindling to a few helicopters by 2001.

Efforts to rebuild the Afghan Air Force began in 2005, and by 2010, it was renamed the Afghan Air Force while remaining a part of the Afghan National Army. As of May 2020, the Afghan Air Force had approximately 7,505 personnel, with a goal to increase this number to 8,000 airmen.

However, following the withdrawal of NATO forces in the summer of 2021 and the Taliban's recapture of Kabul, the Afghan Air Force largely disintegrated once again, with many airmen fleeing the country or standing down.

The number of airmen in the Afghan Air Force in 2020

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is the air force branch of the Afghan Armed Forces. The AAF was established in 1921 under the reign of King Amanullah and was significantly modernized by King Zahir Shah in the 1960s.

In 2020, the AAF had over 7,500 personnel. The Resolute Support Mission intended to increase the ranks of the AAF to 8,000 airmen.

The AAF has had a tumultuous history. During the Soviet-Afghan War, the AAF was equipped with a large inventory of aircraft, manned and maintained by advisors from Czechoslovakia and Cuba. However, the Soviets were reluctant to entrust Afghan pilots with the latest aircraft models or high-priority missions.

Following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, the AAF declined in terms of operational capability. With the collapse of the Najibullah Government in 1992, the AAF splintered, breaking up amongst the different mujahideen factions in the ongoing civil war.

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the AAF largely disintegrated. Many airmen fled the country or stood down in the face of the Taliban, with many aircraft being destroyed or captured.

The Taliban has since expressed its intention to rebuild the AAF and has called on US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan. However, only a few pilots have returned.

The number of airmen in the Taliban's air force

The Taliban's air force, officially the Islamic Emirate Air Force, is believed to have a limited yet present ability to conduct offensive air operations. The air force is likely to be used against ISKP militants, limiting the scope of the ISKP insurgency.

The Taliban inherited a functioning, yet severely degraded air arm from the Afghan Air Force, along with its pilots, technicians, logistical support, and facilities. The Taliban's air force includes UH-60 Black Hawks, Mi-17V5s, Mi-8s, Mi-24s, A-29 Super Tucanos, Cessna 208s, and C-130 Hercules. The Taliban has also been training new pilots.

The Taliban's air force has been used for disaster relief operations, transporting military personnel and cargo, military exercises, and parades. The air force has also seen limited action in suppressing anti-Taliban forces in the northern provinces.

The exact number of Taliban airmen is unknown. However, the Taliban has encouraged US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan, and a few have done so.

The number of US airmen deployed to Afghanistan

The US Air Force has played a significant role in the war in Afghanistan, with about 123,000 airmen deployed to the country since the conflict began in 2001. The Air Force has been the second-largest contributor of troops to the war effort, after the Army, which has deployed over 491,500 soldiers.

However, as the war progressed and shifted towards counterinsurgency operations, the number of US airmen in Afghanistan may have decreased. By 2011, the focus of US military efforts had shifted towards training and assisting Afghan security forces, with a corresponding reduction in overall troop levels.

In the final years of the war, the US military maintained a smaller but still significant presence in Afghanistan. In 2021, it was reported that there were around 2,500 to 3,500 US troops in the country, including Special Operations forces and Joint Special Operations Command units. However, this number did not include additional personnel detailed to other agencies, such as the CIA, which are often classified and not publicly disclosed.

Throughout the two-decade-long conflict, the US Air Force played a crucial role in establishing air superiority, conducting combat missions, and providing support to ground forces. The number of airmen deployed to Afghanistan fluctuated depending on the military's needs and the evolving nature of the conflict.

The number of airmen killed in combat in Afghanistan

The human cost of war is always devastatingly high, and the conflict in Afghanistan is no exception. Since the start of the war in Afghanistan, several airmen have been killed in combat.

On March 4, 2002, Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham was one of seven U.S. soldiers killed during fighting in Afghanistan. Cunningham, a pararescueman, was remembered for his bravery in treating wounded soldiers under enemy fire and helping others to safety. Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, a combat controller, also died in this operation.

In another tragic incident on October 2, 2015, four airmen from the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas were among 11 people killed in a U.S. military transport plane crash in eastern Afghanistan. The crash claimed the lives of six American airmen and five civilians.

Additionally, on April 29, 2013, four U.S. airmen lost their lives when their MC-12 aircraft crashed near Kandahar Air Field. The deceased included Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson, Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka, Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin, and Capt. Brandon L. Cyr.

On January 27, 2020, two airmen, Lt. Col. Paul Voss and Capt. Ryan Phaneuf, were killed in the crash of their E-11A battlefield communications aircraft in Ghazni province, Afghanistan.

These incidents highlight the immense sacrifices made by those serving in the armed forces and the ongoing dangers they face in conflict zones.

The number of airmen in the Afghan Air Force in 2011

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has had a tumultuous history, with its strength fluctuating significantly over the years.

In 1984, the Afghan Air Force was reported to have around 7,000 personnel. However, by 1985, this number had decreased to approximately 47,000 or less due to a large number of defectors.

Following the collapse of the Najibullah government in 1992 and the continuation of civil war, the number of aircraft available to the Afghan Air Force was reduced to less than a dozen.

In 2009, the Air Force numbered about 2,400 personnel, with a planned strength of 7,400 members within several years.

By the end of 2011, the Afghan Air Force had a total of 4,900 airmen and personnel.

As of March 2011, the Afghan Air Force had 44 rotary-wing and 13 fixed-wing aircraft in serviceable condition. By the end of 2011, the Afghan Air Force had acquired 16 C-27As (on loan from the US government) and 35 new Mi-8 Hip helicopters, while phasing out the older An-32 fleet.

The growth of the Afghan Air Force depended on decisions regarding the size of the Afghan National Army, which, in turn, determined AAF requirements. Afghanistan's rugged terrain and limited ground transportation options meant that the Afghan Armed Forces heavily relied on AAF fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft for the airlift of soldiers and supplies, medical and casualty evacuation, and the transport of human remains.

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