Afghan Air Force's Fleet: A Snapshot Of Fighter Jets And More

The number of fighter jets in Afghanistan has fluctuated over the years due to various political and military factors. As of July 2021, the Afghan Air Force had 161 aircraft, including both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. This number had decreased significantly from the 1980s when the Afghan Air Force was at its strongest with at least 7,000 personnel and a large inventory of aircraft, including 240 fixed-wing fighters, fighter-bombers, and light bombers.

The history of the Afghan Air Force dates back to 1921 when it was established under the reign of King Amanullah. However, it has faced many challenges and setbacks throughout its existence. During the civil war in the 1990s, the number of Afghan aircraft was reduced to around 35-40. With the help of the US and NATO, the Afghan Air Force underwent modernization and rebuilding efforts in the 2000s, which led to an increase in aircraft and personnel.

In recent years, the Afghan Air Force has faced challenges such as personnel shortages, a lack of on-site expertise, and the threat of the Taliban. Despite these challenges, the US has continued to provide support and funding, including sending replacement helicopters and providing remote maintenance assistance. As of 2021, the Afghan Air Force had approximately 7,505 personnel and a variety of aircraft in its inventory, including A-29 Super Tucanos, AC-208 Combat Caravans, and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

The Afghan Air Force's history

The Afghan Air Force was established in 1921 under the reign of King Amanullah and was significantly modernized by King Zahir Shah in the 1960s.

In its early years, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom provided aircraft to the Afghan Air Force. During the 1920s, Soviet pilots performed the bulk of the flying, with Polikarpov R-1s (a Soviet copy of the de Havilland DH.9A) making up about half of the aircraft.

In the late 1930s, British Hawker Hind and Italian IMAM Ro.37 aircraft constituted the bulk of the Afghan Air Force, which amounted to about 30 planes in service by 1938. The Hawker Hind remained in the Afghan inventory until 1957.

In 1947, the Air Force was redesignated the Royal Afghan Air Force, a title it retained until further political upheaval in 1973.

By 1960, the Royal Afghan Air Force consisted of approximately 100 combat aircraft, including MiG-15 fighters, Il-28 light bombers, transports, and a few helicopters.

In 1973, King Zahir Shah was deposed and Mohammed Daoud Khan became the country's president. During his five years in power, Daoud gained Soviet assistance to upgrade the capabilities and increase the size of the Afghan Air Force, introducing newer models of Soviet MiG-21 fighters and An-24 and An-26 transports.

In the 1980s, the Soviet Union built up the Afghan Air Force, first in an attempt to defeat the mujahideen and in hopes that strong Afghan airpower would preserve the pro-Soviet government of Mohammad Najibullah. During this time, the Afghan Air Force was at its strongest, with at least 7,000 personnel plus 5,000 foreign advisors. At its peak, the Air Force had at least 240 fixed-wing fighters, fighter-bombers, and light bombers.

The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 marked a turning point in the war. The US supplied the mujahideen with state-of-the-art heat-seeking missiles, which they employed with devastating effect.

With the collapse of the Najibullah Government in 1992, the Air Force splintered, breaking up amongst the different mujahideen factions in the ongoing civil war. By the end of the 1990s, the Taliban maintained five supersonic MiG-21MF and 10 Sukhoi Su-22 fighter-bombers, as well as various other aircraft.

In 2005, a US-led international effort began to rebuild the Afghan Air Force. In 2006, the Afghan National Army Air Corps was established, and in 2010, it was renamed the Afghan Air Force while remaining part of the Afghan National Army.

In 2016, the Afghan Air Force was planned to expand to 8,000 airmen and 145 operational aircraft. However, the force faced challenges, including personnel shortages and a shrinking bank of on-site expertise.

In 2021, the withdrawal of NATO forces, coupled with a large-scale offensive by the Taliban, led to the disintegration of the Afghan Air Force. Many airmen fled the country or stood down, with fixed and rotary-wing aircraft being destroyed or captured by the Taliban.

The Taliban's impact on the Afghan Air Force

The Taliban has a history of targeting Afghan Air Force pilots, with reports of assassinations and threats against those who do not comply with their demands. This has led to many pilots fleeing the country or standing down, resulting in a shortage of personnel and a struggle to maintain aircraft.

Following the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021, the Afghan Air Force, which was already struggling, largely disintegrated amid a large-scale Taliban offensive. This culminated in the Fall of Kabul and the fleeing of President Ashraf Ghani to the United Arab Emirates.

During this offensive, many Afghan Air Force aircraft were destroyed or captured by the Taliban, while others fled to neighbouring countries. The Taliban expressed their intention to rebuild the Afghan Air Force and called on US-trained pilots to return, but only a few have done so.

The impact of the Taliban on the Afghan Air Force has been profound, causing a loss of personnel, aircraft, and infrastructure. The group's actions have set back the development of Afghanistan's air capabilities and have had a detrimental effect on the country's security and stability.

The US's role in the Afghan Air Force

The US has played a significant role in the Afghan Air Force, particularly in its rebuilding and modernisation.

The Royal Afghan Air Force was established in 1921 under the reign of King Amanullah and was significantly modernised by King Zahir Shah in the 1960s. However, following the collapse of Najibullah's government in 1992 and the continuation of civil war throughout the 1990s, the Afghan Air Force was left with only a few helicopters.

In 2006, the Afghan National Army Air Corps was established and was renamed the Afghan Air Force in 2010, remaining part of the Afghan National Army. Since 2007, the US-led Combined Air Power Transition Force, renamed the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan in 2010, has aimed to rebuild and modernise the Afghan Air Force. This force served as the air component of the NATO Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, which was responsible for organising the Afghan Armed Forces.

The US has provided training, advice, assistance, and funding to the Afghan Air Force. In addition, the US has supplied aircraft to the Afghan Air Force, including the A-29 Super Tucano, AC-208 Combat Caravan, and Black Hawk helicopters. The US also decided to stop supplying Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters to the Afghan Air Force in 2014 as part of sanctions against Russia.

The US has also been involved in training Afghan pilots. A program to train A-29 pilots in the US wrapped up in November 2020, with only about 30 pilots trained between 2015 and 2020. However, the Afghan Air Force has faced challenges, including personnel shortages and a shrinking bank of on-site expertise.

Following the withdrawal of NATO forces in the summer of 2021, the Afghan Air Force largely disintegrated, with many airmen fleeing the country or standing down in the face of the Taliban.

The aircraft models used by the Afghan Air Force

The Afghan Air Force has used a variety of aircraft models over the years, with its inventory fluctuating due to political changes, conflicts, and international support. Here is an overview of the aircraft models used by the Afghan Air Force:

Fixed-Wing Aircraft

The Afghan Air Force has utilised various fixed-wing aircraft for ground attack, reconnaissance, transport, and training purposes. Some notable models include:

• Embraer A-29 Super Tucano: Advanced attack, training, and counter-insurgency aircraft. The US provided 20 A-29 Super Tucanos to the Afghan Air Force, with deliveries taking place between 2015 and 2018.
• Cessna 208 Caravan: Light utility aircraft used for transport and reconnaissance.
• Orbital ATK AC-208 Eliminator: Close-air support and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft.
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules: Transport aircraft obtained as replacements for the C-27A model.
• Antonov An-26 Curl: Military cargo transport aircraft.
• Hawker Hind: Attack and reconnaissance aircraft obtained in the late 1930s.
• Mikoyan MiG-21: Fighter aircraft acquired from the Soviet Union, including the MiG-21FL, MiG-21MF, and MiG-21bis variants.
• Mikoyan MiG-15: Fighter and trainer aircraft received in the 1950s.

Rotary-Wing Aircraft

The Afghan Air Force has also operated a range of helicopters for transport, assault, and utility roles. Notable helicopter models include:

• Mil Mi-17: Transport helicopter that has been in service since the late 1970s. The US provided additional Mi-17s to the Afghan Air Force in recent years.
• Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk: Medium-lift, multi-mission helicopter provided by the US to replace the Mi-17.
• Mil Mi-24: Assault helicopter extensively used during the Soviet-Afghan War.
• Mil Mi-8: Transport helicopter received in the 1970s.
• MD Helicopters MD500: Light utility and multirole helicopter.
• Mil Mi-35: Assault and attack helicopter, with some units in service as of 2015.
• Aero L-39 Albatros: Trainer aircraft received from the Soviet Union, with some remaining in service.

Other Aircraft

In addition to fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, the Afghan Air Force has also utilised other types of aircraft for specific roles:

• Alenia-Aeritalia G.222: Medium-lift tactical transport aircraft, designated as C-27A by the US.
• Antonov An-32 Cline: Tactical military transport aircraft.
• Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama: Light utility helicopter.
• McDonnell Douglas DC-10: Wide-body airliner and freighter aircraft.

The future of the Afghan Air Force

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

As of July 2021, the Afghan Air Force had 161 aircraft and, as of May 2020, 7,505 personnel. There are four Afghan Air Force wings located in Kabul, Kandahar, Shindand, and Mazar-i-Sharif.

• International Recognition and Support: The level of international recognition and support the Taliban receives will impact the ability of the Afghan Air Force to acquire new aircraft, spare parts, and maintenance support. The Taliban has faced international sanctions and isolation in the past, which could be a challenge for the future of the air force.
• Pilot and Maintenance Personnel: The Afghan Air Force has faced challenges in training and retaining sufficient numbers of pilots and maintenance personnel. This has led to a heavy reliance on foreign contractors in the past. The ability to address these challenges will be crucial for the future of the air force.
• Spare Parts and Maintenance Support: The availability of spare parts and maintenance support, particularly for US-supplied aircraft, may be impacted by the Taliban's relationship with the United States and other Western countries. Difficulties in acquiring spare parts could hinder the operational readiness of the air force.
• Aircraft Acquisition: The Taliban may seek to acquire new aircraft from countries that are willing to engage with them. However, this could be challenging due to international sanctions and the reluctance of some countries to provide military support to the Taliban.
• International Cooperation: The future of the Afghan Air Force may also depend on the level of cooperation and support from regional powers and neighbouring countries. Countries such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have received Afghan aircraft and personnel fleeing the country, and their future cooperation could impact the reconstruction of the air force.

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