Black Hawk Helicopters: Afghanistan's Vital Air Support

The number of Black Hawk helicopters in Afghanistan has been a topic of discussion and concern for military officials and the general public alike. In 2021, the Taliban captured several US-made Black Hawk helicopters from Afghanistan's military as they rapidly took control of the country. This seizure of aircraft, worth several million dollars each, was a significant symbolic victory for the insurgent group and a blow to the Afghan Air Force, which has since largely disintegrated.

Prior to the Taliban offensive, the Afghan Air Force possessed a variety of aircraft, including attack helicopters, transports, and surveillance drones. The exact number of Black Hawk helicopters in Afghanistan at that time is unclear, but it was part of a larger fleet of aircraft used by the Afghan military.

The United States had planned to provide Afghanistan with up to 159 Black Hawks to enhance their capabilities and break the stalemate with Taliban forces. However, in 2020, the US military reduced this number by two-thirds, providing only 53 Black Hawks instead. This cut in military support raised concerns about the impact on Afghan operations and their ability to maintain air superiority against the Taliban.

The Taliban's capture of US-made Black Hawks and other advanced aircraft has highlighted the challenges faced by the Afghan Air Force and the complex dynamics of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

The US planned to provide Afghanistan with 159 Black Hawks, but cut this number to 53

The US planned to provide Afghanistan with 159 Black Hawk helicopters to replace their aging fleet of Russian Mi-17 transport aircraft. However, in a 2019 report, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced that it would be cutting this number to just 53. This reduction was attributed to a "review of future operational requirements" and the Afghan Air Force's increasing capability to conduct operations independently.

The decision to provide Afghanistan with Black Hawks was part of the Afghan Aviation Transition Plan (AATP) to replace the bulk of the Afghan Air Force's helicopters. The US Army General John Nicholson, in charge of US and coalition forces in Afghanistan, emphasized the need for offensive capabilities to break the stalemate between Afghan and Taliban forces. He identified the Afghan special forces and their air force as key to achieving this.

The Mi-17 helicopters had been essential for resupplying often remote forward bases by air and transporting troops. However, there were not enough of them, and many required maintenance outside of the country, reducing the number available for operations. Political considerations also played a role in the decision to switch to Black Hawks, as American legislators questioned why US military aid was going to foreign companies, including Russia.

Despite the reduction in the number of Black Hawks, the US military continued to provide financial support for the Afghan Air Force's aircraft, including the Black Hawks, AC-208 Eliminator gunships, A-29 Super Tucanos, Mi-17s, and MD-530 light-attack helicopters. The success of the Afghan Air Force was seen as a key metric for Pentagon planners seeking to draw down US troops in the country.

However, critics argued that the Afghan forces might struggle to absorb and maintain the Black Hawks, given the challenges they faced with their existing fleet. There were concerns about the Black Hawk's lift and transport capabilities compared to the Mi-17, and the potential need for the Afghan Air Force to reorient its doctrine and tactics to accommodate the new helicopter.

The reduction in the number of Black Hawks provided to Afghanistan reflected the US military's reassessment of operational requirements and the increasing capabilities of the Afghan Air Force. However, it also highlighted the challenges and complexities involved in transitioning to new aircraft and the potential impact on the Afghan forces' capabilities.

The Black Hawk program was intended to replace Afghanistan's aging Mi-17 fleet

The Mi-17 is a Russian-made helicopter that has been widely used by the Afghan Air Force for transport and cargo missions. However, the Mi-17 fleet was aging and in need of replacement. The U.S. had been the primary supplier of Mi-17s to Afghanistan, but this became politically contentious due to Russia's actions in Ukraine and Syria. As a result, the U.S. Congress imposed a ban on using federal funds to purchase military hardware from Russia's military exporter, Rosoboronexport.

The UH-60 Black Hawk, manufactured by Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin, was chosen as the replacement for the Mi-17. The Black Hawk is a versatile and widely used utility helicopter with a global supply chain. The U.S. planned to provide up to 159 Black Hawks to Afghanistan, with the first deliveries expected within 21 months. The Black Hawk was expected to enhance the Afghan Air Force's capabilities and reduce their reliance on U.S. air support.

However, there were concerns about the suitability of the Black Hawk for Afghanistan's unique environment. The Black Hawk has lower lift capacity and cannot fly at high elevations compared to the Mi-17, which could limit its effectiveness in Afghanistan's mountainous terrain. Additionally, the Black Hawk is more complex and maintenance-intensive, requiring more advanced technical skills from Afghan ground crews. There were also questions about the ability of the Afghan Air Force to absorb and effectively utilize such a large number of new helicopters.

The transition from Mi-17 to Black Hawk did not go as smoothly as hoped. The U.S. ended up reducing the number of Black Hawks provided to Afghanistan by two-thirds, from 159 to just 53. This reduction was attributed to a reassessment of operational requirements and the increasing capability of the Afghan Air Force to conduct independent operations.

Despite these challenges, the U.S. continued to support the modernization of the Afghan Air Force. The Black Hawk program was intended to enhance Afghanistan's airpower capabilities and reduce their dependence on U.S. air support. However, the ultimate success of this program remains to be seen, especially in light of the Taliban's resurgence and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

The Taliban captured several US-made Black Hawks in 2021

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 saw the group capture several US-made Black Hawk helicopters, in addition to other military hardware. This was a major symbolic victory for the group, which had long been fighting against US-led forces in the region.

The seizure of US-supplied military equipment by the Taliban was a significant blow to the US, which had spent billions of dollars on supplying the Afghan military with weapons, equipment, and training to keep the Taliban at bay. The loss of such equipment also raised concerns about its potential use by the Taliban, as well as the possibility of it falling into the wrong hands.

The exact number of Black Hawk helicopters captured by the Taliban is unclear, but it is estimated to be at least four, with some reports suggesting the group may have seized as many as 46. These helicopters were worth around $10 million each and were just a fraction of the US-supplied military equipment abandoned by retreating Afghan forces.

The Taliban's capture of Black Hawk helicopters and other aircraft raised questions about their ability to operate and maintain them. While the group lacked the necessary pilots and technical personnel, there were concerns that they may have coerced captured Afghan pilots to operate the aircraft on their behalf. However, even with skilled pilots, the lack of spare parts and maintenance support from the US would limit the Taliban's ability to use the helicopters in the long term.

The seizure of US-made Black Hawk helicopters by the Taliban in 2021 highlighted the group's rapid takeover of Afghanistan and the collapse of local armed forces. It also underscored the challenges faced by the US and its allies in attempting to prevent military equipment from falling into the wrong hands during their withdrawal from the country.

The Taliban likely lack the training to fly captured aircraft

The Taliban's ability to fly captured aircraft is questionable. While they have released footage of themselves flying in Black Hawk helicopters, the Taliban are not known to have pilots or technical personnel with the requisite training to operate these aircraft.

In August 2021, the Taliban released footage of themselves inspecting captured US-made Black Hawk helicopters at Kandahar airport. However, experts have cast doubt on the utility of these aircraft, suggesting that they may be inoperable or lacking essential parts.

Even if the Taliban possess trained pilots, they would also need familiarity with the bombs and missiles and knowledge of how to mount and arm the aircraft. Regular maintenance is also required to keep aircraft flyable, and the Taliban lack the necessary expertise to maintain these aircraft themselves.

The Taliban have faced challenges in maintaining their captured Black Hawk helicopters. In September 2022, a Taliban Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Kabul during a training flight, resulting in the deaths of three Afghans. This incident was attributed to a lack of training and maintenance.

The Taliban's ability to fly captured aircraft is further hindered by the fact that many Afghan pilots have fled the country or refused to cooperate with the Taliban. Some pilots have been coerced to continue flying, while others have been threatened and their families put at risk.

Overall, while the Taliban have captured US-made Black Hawk helicopters, their ability to operate and maintain these aircraft is limited due to a lack of trained personnel, technical expertise, and maintenance capabilities.

The US spent billions of dollars supplying the Afghan military with weapons, training and equipment

The US spent billions of dollars supplying the Afghan military with weapons, training, and equipment. The US gave a total of $18.6 billion of equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) from 2005 to August 2021. This included aircraft, air-to-ground munitions, military vehicles, weapons, and communications equipment.

The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan left the Afghan government with $7.12 billion worth of military equipment. This included 78 aircraft, 9,524 air-to-ground munitions, 12,000 Humvees, and 300,000 weapons. The US also supplied the Afghan military with night vision, surveillance, biometric, and positioning equipment.

The US spent $83 billion on developing and sustaining the Afghan army and police forces. This included funding for equipment, transportation, ammunition, and training. The US also paid the salaries of Afghan troops.

The US supplied the Afghan military with Black Hawk helicopters, A-29 Super Tucano light attack planes, Humvees, and armoured SUVs. The Taliban captured US-made Black Hawk helicopters and other aircraft when they took control of Kandahar airport. The Taliban also seized US-made Humvees and armoured SUVs.

The US military disabled some equipment before leaving Afghanistan. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of US Central Command, said that the military disabled 70 MRAPs, 27 Humvees, and 73 aircraft. McKenzie stated that these aircraft "will never fly again" and "will never be able to be operated by anyone".

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