The Afghan Air Force (AAF) received additional 4 light attack aircraft today from United States which comes amid ongoing efforts to bolster the capabilities of the Afghan air power.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the light attack aircraft, A-29 Super Tucanos, arrived in Afghanistan today with the latest deliveries increasing the number of A-29s to eight.
MoD further added that the addition of the aircraft will increase the capabilities of the Afghan Air Force to pound the sanctuaries of the militants.
The A-29 is a multi-role, fixed-wing aircraft that will provide the Afghan air force with an indigenous air-to-ground capability and aerial reconnaissance capabilities to support the country’s counterinsurgency operations.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford has said that the addition of MD-530 helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano light attack fixed-wing aircraft to Afghan Air Force will make a difference as integration of aviation assets into the Afghan combined arms campaign will receive more attention this year.
Meanwhile, 20 Afghan military students have been sent to United States for trainings in aviation sector recently.
“Over the last week, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan’s Security Assistance Office-Afghanistan’s Training Branch has sent 21 military students from Afghanistan to training in the United States,” according to an online statement by Resolute Support mission.
The statement released on Saturday further added “One will be trained at the Ordnance Basic Officer Leadership Course, three will be trained as A-29 aviators for the Afghan Air Force, eight as A-29 mechanics and nine as C-130 mechanics.”
