**Afghan Skies: The Abandoned Helicopters Left Behind**

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 left the Taliban with access to billions of dollars' worth of military equipment, including helicopters. The exact number of helicopters left behind is unclear, but estimates range from 6 to 33, with some sources stating that only a handful are operable. The US military has not ruled out bombing the equipment to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

The US left $7 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has been described as "chaotic and hasty", with the US military leaving behind a large amount of military equipment. This equipment, worth approximately $7 billion, was transferred to the Afghan government over a period of 16 years. It included aircraft, vehicles, munitions, weapons, and communication equipment, as well as other gear.

Among the items left behind were 78 aircraft worth $923 million, which were demilitarized and rendered inoperable by the US military before their departure. In addition, $6.5 million worth of artillery and 300,000 weapons were also left in Afghanistan. The US military also abandoned over 40,000 military vehicles, including 12,000 Humvees, with an unknown number remaining operational.

The US Department of Defense (DOD) reported that the equipment was left behind due to the collapse of the Afghan government, which resulted in the Taliban gaining access to American military equipment. The Taliban has been seen parading captured US equipment, including helicopters, armoured vehicles, and military drones.

The DOD has stated that it has no plans to return to Afghanistan to retrieve or destroy the equipment. However, they emphasized that the military hardware was the property of the now-defunct Afghan government and that nearly all equipment used by US forces was either removed or destroyed prior to withdrawal.

The fall of the US-backed Afghan government and the subsequent Taliban takeover have raised concerns about the potential misuse of the abandoned military equipment. Lawmakers and experts worry about the impact on Afghanistan's security and stability, especially given the Taliban's history of targeting certain communities.

The Taliban now has more Black Hawk helicopters than 85% of countries

The Taliban's acquisition of US military equipment, including Black Hawk helicopters, has raised concerns about the group's increased capabilities and potential impact on Afghanistan's security. The claim that the Taliban "now has more Black Hawk helicopters than 85% of countries" has been rated as "half true" by PolitiFact. While it is accurate that most countries do not possess Black Hawk helicopters, the exact number of these helicopters in the Taliban's possession remains unclear.

The US military had 33 operational Black Hawks in Afghanistan as of June 30, according to a US Department of Defense report. However, it is uncertain how many were left behind during the withdrawal and how many are operable by the Taliban. Media outlets have refrained from reporting specific numbers, while a military analyst blog states that the Taliban seized 18 Black Hawks, with only six being functional.

The ability of the Taliban to effectively operate and maintain Black Hawk helicopters is questionable. Bradley Bowman, a former Black Hawk pilot, asserted that learning to pilot these helicopters takes significant time and training. Additionally, maintenance presents another challenge, as highlighted by Jonathan Schroden, the director of the Countering Threats and Challenges Program at the Center for Naval Analyses. He suggested that the Taliban might struggle to repair the helicopters.

The acquisition of even a single Black Hawk helicopter by the Taliban would technically make their possession greater than that of 85% of countries worldwide. Reports and videos indicate that the Taliban has gained access to at least one operational Black Hawk, as seen in an air display and a video of a parade featuring a Black Hawk helicopter.

The Taliban's access to advanced military equipment, such as Black Hawk helicopters, has significant implications for the group's capabilities and the security situation in Afghanistan. Experts worry that the use of these helicopters could enhance the Taliban's ability to inflict violence on targeted communities and curb potential urban uprisings.

The US spent $1.8 billion on the Afghan Air Force since 2019

The US has spent a significant amount of money on the Afghan Air Force since 2019, with figures ranging from $1.8 billion to nearly $8 billion. This investment was part of a broader effort to build, equip, and train the Afghan military to fight against the Taliban. However, despite this substantial financial support, the Afghan Air Force faced challenges in becoming fully self-sufficient.

The US provided billions of dollars' worth of equipment and training to the Afghan Air Force, including Black Hawk helicopters, A-29 attack planes, and other aircraft. The goal was to enable the Afghan military to independently combat the Taliban. However, the Afghan Air Force struggled to achieve full self-sufficiency, relying heavily on American maintenance and support.

The US Department of Defense reported that as of June 30, 2021, there were 33 operational Black Hawk helicopters in Afghanistan. Following the US withdrawal, it is unclear how many of these helicopters ended up in Taliban hands. Some reports indicate that the Taliban may have access to a few operable Black Hawks, raising concerns about their potential use against Afghan communities.

The US left behind approximately $7 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan, according to a Pentagon report. This includes aircraft, vehicles, weapons, and other materials. The US had provided this equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces over a period of 16 years. The report also highlights the lack of plans by the Defense Department to retrieve or destroy the equipment left behind.

The US and NATO pledged billions of dollars to support Afghanistan's military and security forces. From 2001 to 2021, the US spent nearly $89 billion to build, equip, and train these forces. This includes nearly $10 billion spent on vehicles and aircraft. However, despite this significant investment, the Afghan military struggled to contain the advancing Taliban.

In summary, the US spent a substantial amount of money on the Afghan Air Force since 2019, but the force faced challenges in becoming fully self-sufficient. The US withdrawal left behind valuable military equipment, including helicopters and other aircraft, which have become a part of the Taliban's arsenal. The broader efforts to train and equip the Afghan military also encountered difficulties, with the Taliban making rapid gains across the country.

The US gave $18.6 billion of equipment to Afghan forces from 2005-2021

The US gave $18.6 billion of equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) from 2005 to 2021. This included aircraft, air-to-ground munitions, military vehicles, weapons, communications equipment, and other materials.

The US military has been heavily criticised for its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has resulted in billions of dollars' worth of equipment falling into the hands of the Taliban. This equipment includes helicopters, armoured vehicles, and military drones.

The US spent nearly $1.8 billion on building, equipping, and sustaining the Afghan Air Force since 2019. The Afghan Air Force had 33 usable Black Hawk helicopters in the country, each costing up to $21 million. It is unclear how many of these Black Hawks are now under Taliban control, but unverified footage has emerged of militants flying a captured Black Hawk over Kandahar city.

In total, there were 167 operable aircraft in Afghanistan as of 30 June 2021, including Black Hawks, A-29s, and MD-530 helicopters. General McKenzie of the US military said 73 aircraft were left, without specifying the type. The Taliban is believed to control more than 2,000 armoured vehicles, including Humvees.

The US Department of Defense funded nearly 600,000 weapons for the Afghan army between 2004 and 2016, according to a 2017 report. These included rifles, pistols, machine guns, and sniper rifles. In addition, nearly 73,000 high-explosive grenades were provided to the Afghan police between 1 March and 31 May 2021.

The US has also provided the Afghan forces with military gear such as night-vision goggles, which are deemed to be a game-changer for military operations in the dark.

The Taliban's new arsenal includes Humvees and US military gear

The Taliban's new arsenal includes Humvees, rifles, night-vision goggles, drones, and US military gear. The group has seized control of more than 2,000 armoured vehicles, including US Humvees, and up to 40 aircraft, including UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, scout attack helicopters, and ScanEagle military drones.

The US provided the Afghan military with an estimated $28 billion in weaponry between 2002 and 2017, including guns, rockets, night-vision goggles, and drones. Since 2003, the US has provided Afghanistan with 600,000 infantry weapons, such as M16 assault rifles, 16,000 sets of night vision goggles, and 162,000 pieces of communications equipment.

Videos and images have emerged of Taliban fighters brandishing US-made weapons and riding in abandoned Humvees, raising concerns about the group's newfound military capabilities. US officials are particularly concerned about the Taliban's acquisition of helicopters and other aircraft, as these could significantly enhance the group's combat power and ability to inflict violence on communities.

While the Taliban may face challenges in operating and maintaining the more sophisticated aircraft, such as the Black Hawk helicopters, they can still use them as trophies or sell them to rival states. Additionally, the group's access to armoured vehicles, light weapons, and other military gear bolsters their military capabilities and reputation within Afghanistan.

The true extent of the Taliban's new arsenal is still unknown, as the US did not provide a complete inventory of the equipment left behind during the withdrawal. However, it is clear that the group has acquired a significant amount of US-made weapons and vehicles, which could have a significant impact on the country's future.

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