Black Hawk Presence In Afghanistan: Examining The Numbers

The number of Black Hawk helicopters in Afghanistan has been a contentious issue in recent years. The US initially pledged to provide the Afghan forces with 159 Black Hawks to help break the stalemate between Afghan and Taliban forces. However, in 2021, the US reduced the number of Black Hawks to 53, a two-thirds cut from the original plan. This decision was based on a review of future operational requirements, according to a Defense Department report.

The Black Hawk helicopters have been a significant part of the Afghan Air Force, which has gone through several changes and modernizations since its establishment in 1921. The Air Force suffered significant losses during the Taliban offensive in 2021, with several helicopters, including Black Hawks, being destroyed or captured by the Taliban.

The Taliban's seizure of US-made Black Hawk helicopters has been a symbolic victory for the insurgent group and an embarrassment for the US. Despite the US spending billions of dollars on supplying the Afghan military with weapons and equipment, the Taliban has been able to take control of these assets.

As of 2024, the US has pledged to provide 37 Black Hawk helicopters to Afghanistan as part of its continued assistance to the Afghan Air Force. This comes after the US ended its military presence in the country while still providing support to the Afghan forces.

The US pledged to provide 37 Black Hawks to Afghanistan

The US pledged to provide 37 Black Hawk helicopters and two A-29 Super Tucano fixed-wing attack aircraft to Afghanistan. This pledge was made to the Afghan delegation in Washington, and it comes at a time when the US is winding down its military presence in the country.

The US has long supplied the Afghan military with weapons, training, and equipment to counter the Taliban. However, with the US withdrawal, the Taliban has been able to seize American-supplied arms, including Black Hawk helicopters.

The Black Hawk helicopters are worth several million dollars each, and while it is unclear if the Taliban can fly them, their capture is a significant statement and an embarrassment for Washington.

The Afghan Air Force has long relied on Russian-made helicopters, but the US has been pushing to replace them with American-made aircraft. In 2016, the Pentagon submitted a budget proposal requesting funds for 53 upgraded UH-60s for Afghanistan. This number was later reduced to 33, and it is unclear if these are the same helicopters that the US has pledged to provide.

The Afghan Air Force is in dire need of additional helicopters, and the Black Hawks are intended to replace Afghanistan's existing fleet of Russian-made helicopters. However, there are concerns about whether the Black Hawks are a good choice, as they may not have the same lift and transport capabilities as the Russian helicopters.

The US pledge to provide 37 Black Hawks to Afghanistan is part of its continued assistance to the country, even as it ends its military presence there. It remains to be seen how effective these helicopters will be in the hands of the Afghan Air Force and how they will impact the ongoing conflict with the Taliban.

The US cut the number of Black Hawks to Afghanistan by two-thirds

The US military cut the number of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters it planned to provide to Afghan forces from 159 to 53, a reduction of two-thirds. This was outlined in a December 2019 Defense Department report, which provided little detail on the cuts.

The Black Hawk program was intended to replace Afghanistan's aging Mi-17 fleet and provide Afghan forces with troop and cargo transport and casualty evacuation. The US had originally planned to deliver 159 Black Hawks to help break the stalemate between Afghan and Taliban forces.

However, critics argued that Afghan forces were barely capable of maintaining their existing fleet of aircraft and that the Mi-17 provided more lift and transport capability than the UH-60. It is unknown whether the reduction in UH-60s hampered Afghan operations or limited their lift capability.

The US military also cut the number of armed fixed-wing AC-208 attack and reconnaissance aircraft it planned to deliver from 32 to 10. The report stated that these reductions were made based on a review of future operational requirements.

The US had spent billions of dollars supplying the Afghan military with weapons, training, and equipment to keep the Taliban at bay. However, following the collapse of local armed forces, the Taliban gained access to this military hardware.

The Taliban's seizure of US-made Black Hawks was a major symbolic victory and a source of embarrassment for Washington. It is unclear whether the Taliban have the capability to fly or maintain the captured aircraft, but their capture underscores the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country.

The Taliban captured Black Hawks from a US base in Afghanistan

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan saw the insurgents seize control of major cities and military assets, including US-made Black Hawk helicopters from the Kandahar airbase, which was one of the most important US bases in the country. The seizure of these helicopters, worth several million dollars each, dealt a symbolic blow to the US-backed Afghan government and highlighted the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country.

The Taliban's capture of the Black Hawk helicopters was part of a larger pattern of seizing US-supplied military hardware, including tactical vehicles, Humvees, small arms, and ammunition. The insurgents' ability to acquire and utilise this equipment raised concerns about the training and support provided to the Afghan security forces, who had received billions of dollars in funding and assistance from the US and its allies.

The Kandahar airbase, which fell to the Taliban in August 2021, served as a key US military base during the war in Afghanistan. The base housed US and coalition forces, as well as Afghan security forces, and was a hub for aerial operations and logistical support. With the fall of Kandahar, the Taliban solidified their control over southern Afghanistan and advanced towards the capital, Kabul.

The seizure of the Black Hawk helicopters by the Taliban was a significant development for several reasons. Firstly, it symbolised the Taliban's growing military capabilities and the erosion of the Afghan security forces' power. Secondly, it highlighted the failure of the US strategy in Afghanistan, which had aimed to strengthen the Afghan government and security forces to prevent a Taliban takeover. Finally, it raised concerns about the potential misuse of advanced military equipment by the Taliban, including the possibility of selling sensitive technology to other hostile actors.

While the Taliban lacked the necessary pilots and technical personnel to operate the helicopters initially, they may have captured Afghan air force pilots who could fly the aircraft. Additionally, the Taliban's capture of Black Hawk helicopters and other military assets underscored the need for a coordinated response from the international community to prevent the insurgents from fully exploiting these resources and to mitigate the risks associated with advanced weaponry falling into the wrong hands.

The Taliban showed off captured Black Hawks at Kandahar airport

The Taliban released footage showing captured US-made Afghan military helicopters at Kandahar airport, which was one of the most important US bases in the country. The insurgents have been quick to show off their war spoils in the southern city, their spiritual birthplace, and now one of the biggest prizes in a countrywide blitz that has left the capital Kabul surrounded by Taliban fighters.

The footage, posted on Taliban social media accounts, shows an insurgent walking around a US-made Black Hawk military helicopter, which is in brown-green camouflage with Afghan Air Force markings, purportedly at a Kandahar airport hangar. He then walks out and another Black Hawk is seen in the distance on the tarmac. As he walks to the side of the hangar, two Russian military helicopters are seen as another person is heard saying "Mashallah", an Islamic term of praise.

It was not clear if any of the helicopters were airworthy. The Black Hawk inside the hangar was seemingly in storage, with a black sheet covering its windshield and its left engine apparently missing. The two Russian helicopters outside the hangar were missing their blades, with a sheet covering the front of one airframe.

One of the fighters is heard claiming there are five military helicopters at the airport, and several jets. While the Taliban have been able to deploy other equipment on the battlefield, experts have cast doubt about the utility of captured helicopters and planes if they are not just husks.

The Taliban are not known to possess the pilots or technical personnel needed to fly them. However, their capture is a symbolic boon for the insurgents and an embarrassment for the Western coalition ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the deadline for the American withdrawal.

The Kandahar video was released just a day after the Taliban captured the city from Afghan forces, which have lost all major cities except Kabul, which is expected to be handed over as well.

Images such as these have emerged from cities across Afghanistan that have fallen to the Taliban, showing insurgents posing with captured weapons and patrolling in vehicles once used by Afghan spies and elite forces. Taliban fighters have also seized tactical vehicles, Humvees, small arms, and ammunition.

Washington supplied much of that hardware to the Afghan military, to the tune of $88 billion since 2002. With US troops all but gone, Taliban fighters are now flush with American-supplied arms and equipment, often left by retreating Afghan forces.

The seizure of US-made Black Hawk helicopters by the Taliban is a major symbolic victory for the insurgent group. The Black Hawk is perhaps best known for featuring in the 2001 Ridley Scott thriller Black Hawk Down.

The Taliban may have captured Afghan pilots to fly the Black Hawks

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan saw the collapse of the Afghan Air Force, with large numbers of airmen fleeing the country or surrendering in the face of the Taliban. The Taliban expressed their intention to rebuild the Afghan Air Force and called on US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan. While only a few pilots have returned since the Taliban takeover, there are reports of Taliban fighters posing next to captured Black Hawks and other aircraft.

The Taliban's ability to fly the captured aircraft is uncertain. The aircraft may be grounded due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance expertise. Additionally, the Taliban may face challenges in finding trained pilots to fly the aircraft. However, there are reports of aircraft recently seized by the Taliban flying through the air, indicating that they may have access to trained pilots.

The capture of the Black Hawks and other aircraft is a significant symbolic victory for the Taliban and a source of embarrassment for the US and its allies. The US had spent billions of dollars supplying the Afghan military with weapons, training, and equipment, only to see them fall into the hands of the Taliban. The Taliban's ability to operate the captured aircraft, even in a limited capacity, could enhance their military capabilities and propaganda efforts.

The Taliban's capture of Afghan pilots and aircraft personnel is a concerning development. The Taliban had conducted a campaign of targeted killings of airmen, and there are fears that captured pilots may be forced to work for the Taliban. The safety and well-being of the captured pilots and their families are at risk under Taliban rule.

Overall, the Taliban's capture of Black Hawks and other aircraft highlights the complex dynamics in Afghanistan and the challenges faced by the international community in dealing with the Taliban regime. The potential use of captured aircraft and personnel by the Taliban underscores the need for continued monitoring and response to ensure the safety and security of the region.

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