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97-510: It was one of the largest Afghan Air Force bases. The Soviet Armed Forces began building an airfield near the village of Shindand in 1961 and made heavy use of the base during the 1980s Soviet–Afghan War . 129th, 217th, and 274th Fighter-Bomber Regiments were deployed at various times (Holm 2015). Control of the base was taken over from President Mohammad Najibullah by forces of the Islamic State of Afghanistan . They were forced to abandon

194-534: A 790-square-meter (8,500 sq ft) passenger terminal, and a fire suppression system with nearly 600,000 liters (130,000 imp gal; 160,000 U.S. gal) of water were also added to the air base. Supplying U.S. Army soldiers in Regional Command West , in March 2011, the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion was replaced by the 298th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion . In January 2012,

291-488: A few pilots have returned since the Taliban takeover. On 11 January 2022, Taliban's minister of Defence Mullah Yaqoob asked Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to return the aircraft that were used by Afghan pilots to flee the country and warned of repercussions if the aircraft are not returned. On 6 February 2022, Taliban's Ministry of Defence spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarizmi announced that around five Afghan pilots have returned to

388-570: A further four due before the end of 2016. Combat-ready Afghan Super Tucano pilots graduated from training at Moody AFB returned to Afghanistan, the first of a total of 30 pilots the USAF trained. By March 2018, the AAF had 12 Super Tucanos in service. On 22 March 2018, the Afghan Air Force dropped a GBU-58 Paveway II laser-guided bomb from a Super Tucano in combat, for the first time. The U.S. Navy equipped

485-470: A number of Afghan pilots were equally reluctant to conduct air strikes against their countrymen. The Afghan Air Force was at its strongest in the 1980s and early 1990s, producing some concern on the part of neighboring countries. The Air Force had 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. Midway through

582-600: A part of this two Indian Air Force teams visited Afghanistan and identified around 50 aircraft which could be serviced and brought back to active service. This included Mi-25/35, Mi-8 and An-32s aircraft. Twenty attack aircraft that could also be used for training and to provide the Army with close air support were desired. The two contenders were the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano and the Beechcraft AT-6 . Embraer won

679-616: A period where the entire fleet was grounded for over six months). The US military worked over the course of three years with Alenia North America to get the fleet fully operational. Part of the issues with supplying the C-27As came about from ownership. The C-27A program included an initial parts supply and training contract for the Afghan Air Force. Upon arrival of the first two aircraft in November 2009, Brig. Gen. Michael R. Boera, commanding general, Combined Air Power Transition Force and commander of

776-677: A plan for the Air Corps that became the basis for the Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF) that began work the following year. For the first time in over two decades Afghanistan began training new pilots. In January 2008, President Hamid Karzai said that his country's Air Force had been reborn after inaugurating its new headquarters at Kabul International Airport freshly equipped with new aircraft. It had received 26 new and refurbished aircraft, including Czech-donated Mi-35 Hind helicopter gunships. With United States funding,

873-648: 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. Also by that time, a small number of Afghan pilots were undergoing undergraduate pilot training in the United States, while others attended training in the Soviet Union, India , and several European countries. In 1973 King Zahir Shah

970-517: Is currently operated by UAE -based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation . The airport was originally named as Khwaja Rawash Airport because it was built in the area named Khwaja Rawash. It was given the name Kabul Airport in 1960 after the Soviet Union built a terminal and a concrete runway. From 2014 to 2021, it was named Hamid Karzai International Airport in honor of former President Hamid Karzai . After

1067-399: Is operative and that the airport's tower is operating again. A Qatar Airways flight evacuating 113 nationals of other countries from Afghanistan was allowed to land at and depart from the airport on 9 September due to cooperation between the United States and the Taliban, marking the first such flight since the Taliban had completely taken over the facility. Meanwhile, the Taliban renamed

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1164-650: The 2021 Taliban offensive , Taliban fighters targeted Afghan Air Force pilots. Many pilots escaped to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan , bringing a number the AAF aircraft with them. Satellite pictures analysis of 16 August indicated that the Termez Airport held multiple AAF aircraft: including various Mi-17 , Mi-25 and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, as well some A-29s and C-208s airplanes. An Afghan A-29 Super Tucano crashed in Uzbekistan's Surxondaryo Region . Two pilots ejected and landed with parachutes. Initially it

1261-546: The 438th Air Expeditionary Wing announced that the aircraft were part of the Afghan National Army Air Corps in a ceremony at Kabul International Airport. The contract for the aircraft, a 14-month effort, had the U.S. government as the end user of the aircraft due to an Italian arms embargo with Afghanistan. The U.S. declaration that the C-27A was now an Afghan Air Force asset effectively violated international law and

1358-630: The Islamic Emirate Air Force and the Afghan Air Force , is the air force branch of the Afghan Armed Forces . The Royal Afghan Air Force was established in 1921 under the reign of King Amanullah and significantly modernized by King Zahir Shah in the 1960s. During 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

1455-542: The Japan International Cooperation Agency . This terminal has two jetbridges .The then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai attended the inauguration ceremony. The new terminal was officially opened to international flights in June 2009. The existing terminal has been refurbished and used for domestic flights. Passenger movements reached 100,000 per year by 2010, or 300 per day. In early 2012, the radar system

1552-736: The NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan . The base may also have been used in the past by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for surveillance missions over western Afghanistan that included use of the RQ-170 drone. "Construction of a perimeter fence at Shindand Air Base tripled the size of the base and included 52 guard towers. Force protection was a major component of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) military construction program in Afghanistan." Shindand also hosted

1649-607: The Soviet–Afghan War , one estimate listed the following inventory: Additionally, the Afghan Air Force probably operated some 40 or more transports, including the Antonov An-26 , Antonov An-24 , and Antonov An-2 . Another estimate in 1988 painted a more detailed picture of the Afghan Air Force: The Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 (export model) attack helicopters have a long history in Afghanistan. The aircraft

1746-606: The Taliban returned to power in 2021, the name was changed back to Kabul International Airport. Sitting at an altitude of approximately 1,791 m (5,876 ft) above sea level , the airport is surrounded by parts of the Hindu Kush mountains. It serves as a hub for Ariana Airlines and Kam Air . International companies such as Air Arabia , Flydubai and Turkish Airlines also provide passenger services. The airport has two separate terminals, one for international passengers and

1843-549: The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks , Kabul Airport was bombed by United States and coalition forces. After the ISAF took over control, the airport began to be developed slowly over the years. A new radar system was installed in 2005, which was upgraded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2010. A new $ 35 million terminal for international flights was inaugurated in November 2008, built with aid from

1940-575: The United States Department of Defense (DOD) aimed to procure 30 additional armed MD-530F helicopters and 6 additional A-29 attack aircraft to replace the Mil Mi-35 in service with the AAF. DOD asked for funds to add an additional five AC-208s to the fleet. The requested FY2017 Afghan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) budget, including the 23 additional funds for the first year of the planned procurement, went to Congress on 10 November 2016. As part of

2037-422: The 14th Flying Training Wing Commander said of the pilots, "The extraordinary dedication of these pilots and the sacrifices these graduates have made will help establish a secure, stable and unified country". The pilot graduates and the remaining 22 student pilots were to receive further, advisory support in Afghanistan. The first four aircraft arrived at Hamid Karzai International Airport on 15 January 2016, with

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2134-436: The 1990s, the Taliban maintained five supersonic MiG-21MF and 10 Sukhoi Su-22 fighter-bombers. They also held six Mil Mi-8 helicopters, five Mi-35s, five L-39Cs, six An-12s, 25 An-26s, a dozen An-24/32s, an IL-18, and a Yakovlev. The Afghan Northern Alliance /United Front operated a small number of helicopters and transports and a few other aircraft for which it depended on assistance from neighboring Tajikistan. While

2231-609: The 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery Regiment , deployed to Shindand as Task Force Granite. Task Force Granite was responsible for base security. They provided Base Security Battalion Command, and carried out patrol and assessment missions, checkpoint control and flight line security for the base. The 1/214's B Battery also provided the tactical security element for the USAF Office of Special Investigation's Expeditionary Detachment 2416, Task Force Grey during outside-the-wire counterthreat operations. Between 2012 and 2014 Shindand air base

2328-518: The 298th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion was replaced by the 365th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (Mississippi Army Reserve). Prior to summer 2011 base security was run by US host units 5/158 (12th CAB) as well as hired Afghan contractors. An Air Force Security Forces ESFS was not officially stood up, but nevertheless manned by a HQ unit of the 820th BDG and airmen sourced from several bases around summer 2011. In December 2011, members of Bravo Battery, 1/134 Field Artillery, were sourced to take

2425-621: The 3rd Wing of the Afghan Air Force (AAF) until August 2021. In August 2021, Shindand Air Base fell to the Taliban after a surrender by government forces. The Taliban captured weaponry and vehicles from the Afghan National Army and Afghan Air Force . On 6 December the Taliban Government reformed the Afghan Air Force. Afghan Air Force The General Command of the Air Force ( Pashto : د هوايي ځواک عمومي قومندان , Dari : فرماندهی کل نیروی هوایی ) also referred to as

2522-482: The AAF was a few helicopters. In 2006, the Afghan National Army Air Corps was established, and was renamed the Afghan Air Force in 2010 while remaining part of the Afghan National Army . Since 2007, the U.S.-led Combined Air Power Transition Force, renamed the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan in 2010, aimed to rebuild and modernize the Afghan Air Force. It served as the air component of

2619-487: The Afghan Air Force and Gen. Abdul Fahim Ramin as the final Afghan Air Force Commander. Abdul Raziq Sherzai served as a major general and commander of the Kandahar Air Wing. Abdul Raziq Sherzai is the brother of Nangarhar Province province governor Gul Agha Sherzai . In 2013 Afghanistan sent India a large wish-list of equipment which included one An-32 and two squadrons of Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters. This deal

2716-558: The Afghan Air Force to continue to train while the C-27A fleet was effectively out of service for over a year, making transition to the C-130 a feasible alternative. The Mi-17 was in service with the Afghan Air Force since the late 1970s (four were damaged or destroyed in combat as early as 1979). DOD purchased a number of new Mi-17s for the AAF from Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. At least two Mi-17s were reported to have crashed during

2813-460: The Afghan Air Force with intent to turn over the asset in the future. This determination assumed that the Italian embargo would at some point be lifted, or that enough supplies could be stock piled to take the aircraft through its expected 10-year service life, but that determination was not immediate. This caused a delay of contracted goods beyond the time frame of the initial contract through no fault of

2910-584: The Afghan Air Force with refurbished An-32 transport aircraft during initial reconstruction efforts. These aircraft augmented an existing fleet of An-32 and An-26 aircraft. The An-32 was retired on 17 June 2011 in a push to move operations over to the C27 program but like the L-39, it is still kept in ready status by the Afghan Air Force. The United States purchased the C-27A to move the AAF away from Soviet aircraft. A total of 20 former Italian military C-27As were purchased with

3007-586: The Afghan Armed Forces depends heavily upon AAF fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft for airlift of soldiers and supplies between corps operating locations, medical and casualty evacuation, and transport of human remains. The Afghan government also relied on the AAF for transportation of election materials during the 2009 presidential election . It was announced in October 2011 that the Afghan Air Force would be provided with 145 multi-type aircraft and 21 helicopters. By

Shindand Air Base - Misplaced Pages Continue

3104-444: The Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) was renamed the Afghan Air Force (AAF) by order of Afghan President Hamid Karzai . Also in the same year, a number of female trainers completed their courses and were commissioned as lieutenants . More were being trained as the numbers of air force personnel increased. As of March 2011, the Afghan Air Force (AAF) had 44 rotary-wing and 13 fixed-wing aircraft in serviceable condition. By

3201-779: The Afghan government had also acquired transport helicopters and a number of Ukrainian military aircraft. The North Kabul International Airport cantonment area included the new headquarters for the Afghan Air Force and 201st Kabul Air Wing. The wing's three operational squadrons, one fixed-wing, one rotary-wing, and the Presidential Airlift Squadron, were housed there. The cantonment area includes state-of-the-art hangars as well as operations, logistics, billeting, dining, and recreational facilities. Extensive AAF facilities were also constructed at Kandahar International Airport . A number of Afghan pilots and pilot-candidates travelled to

3298-616: The Afghan government. In 1924 and 1925 the new air force first saw action when it fought against the Khost rebellion . From 1921, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom provided a small number of aircraft to King Amanullah Khan ; who had been impressed with British India's use of aircraft against the Emirate of Afghanistan 's forces in 1919, during the Third Anglo-Afghan War . However,

3395-810: The Afghanistan War. The most recent DOD acquisition of Mi-17s was for 21 airframes, spare parts and training. These all include western avionics. Eighteen of these were delivered in 2012. As part of the contract, there was also an option for another twelve Mi-17s, raising the contract to 33. They were modified in the UAE after being delivered to the US Army to fit Afghan Air Force requirements better before being sent to Afghanistan. The Afghan Air Force possessed two Mi-17v5 Flight Training Devices, one Mi-17v5 Basic Aircraft Training Device, and one Mi-17 Cockpit Procedure Trainer built by Fidelity Technologies Corporation. The Air Force

3492-554: The Afghanistan air force headquarters at the Kabul International Airport . In the summer of 2012, the 3rd Battalion, C & D Company 144th Infantry regiment from the 56th BCT, 36 Infantry Division deployed to Afghanistan (RC West) as Task Force Bowie. TF Bowie provided Battalion Command Base Security, including but not limited to presences/combat patrols, assessment missions, checkpoint control and flight line security for Shindand Airbase and surrounding areas. In 2013,

3589-493: The Air Force remained relatively small until after the 1979–80 Soviet intervention in Afghanistan . While the Afghan Air Force was equipped with a large inventory – probably some 400 aircraft in the mid-1980s – many of them were manned and maintained by advisors from Czechoslovakia and Cuba . In many cases, the Soviets were reluctant to entrust Afghan pilots with either the latest aircraft models or high priority missions and, indeed,

3686-510: The Americans took the first tentative steps to reestablishing an Afghan presidential airlift capability in keeping with a directive from U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld . In May 2005, Afghan officials named Major General Dawran the commander of the new Afghan Air Corps. Later that year, a small team led by Colonel John Hansen, U.S. Army, began working with Afghan airmen at Kabul International Airport. By mid-2006, Colonel Hansen had developed

3783-470: The C-130 is that the cockpit and cargo compartment configurations of the C-27A are similar to that of a C-130H. The C-27A simulator program, contracted to Fidelity Technologies Corporation, produced three C-27A simulators: one Fuselage Load Trainer (cargo compartment), one Flight Training Device (cockpit), and one Basic Aircraft Training Device (cockpit). These training devices were built to FAA standards from two derelict U.S. Air Force C-27A aircraft and allowed

3880-499: The Italian government enforced the embargo and stopped shipment of contracted supplies to Afghanistan. This put the U.S. government in a dilemma since the $ 290 million contract was funded through the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) which required, by U.S. law, that all military materials purchased be turned over to the Afghan government. The C-27A was eventually determined to be a U.S. owned asset utilized by

3977-449: The Levant - Khorasan (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility. The last American forces departed from the airport around midnight on 30 August, ending U.S. involvement in the 20-year war. The Taliban subsequently took control of the airport. Rough estimates by the Taliban calculated the damage to the airport at around $ 350 million. Abdul Hadi Hamadan, the Taliban head of the airport, later stated that

Shindand Air Base - Misplaced Pages Continue

4074-769: The Middle East. Owing to a combination of the limited capabilities of these early types of missiles, poor training and poor material condition of the missiles, they were not particularly effective. Beginning in 1986, the US supplied the mujahideen with its state-of-the-art heat-seeking missile, the FIM-92 Stinger , which the Afghans employed with devastating effect. In the first use of the Stinger in Afghanistan, mujahideen fighters downed three of eight unsuspecting Soviet Mi-24 Hinds as they approached

4171-516: The NATO Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan which was responsible for organising the Afghan Armed Forces. The AAF possessed 161 aircraft in 2021 and had in 2020 over 7,500 personnel. The Resolute Support Mission intended to raise the ranks of the AAF to 8,000 airmen and increase the number of aircraft, which were progressively getting more advanced. Following the withdrawal of NATO forces in

4268-457: The Super Tucanos for $ 427 million. The first ten aircraft were to be stationed at Shindand Air Base , in western Afghanistan. The other 10 were to go to Kandahar Airfield . Pilot training was undertaken by the U.S. Air Force's 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base , Georgia . On 18 December 2015, the first Super Tucano pilots graduated at Moody AFB . USAF Colonel John Nichols,

4365-699: The Taliban regime. The sanctions, along with the Taliban government's control of Ariana Afghan Airlines and the grounding of many of the carrier's international flights, had a devastating effect on the economic health of the company through the 1990s. The fleet was reduced to only a handful of Russian and Ukrainian built An-26s , Yak-40s and three Boeing 727s , which were used on the longest domestic routes and military transport roles. With no overseas assets, by 1999 Ariana's international operations consisted of flights to Dubai only; also, limited cargo flights continued into China 's western provinces. However, sanctions imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1267 forced

4462-547: The Taliban. Many other fixed and rotary-wing aircraft had flown to neighboring countries. It was reported that 46 aircraft (22 fixed-wing and 24 helicopters) have so far ended up at Termez Airport in Uzbekistan . After the takeover, Taliban expressed their intention to rebuild the Afghan Air Force and had called on US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan. In July 1921, the RSFSR promised to deliver aircraft free of charge to

4559-479: The USAF Office of Special Investigations Expeditionary Detachment 2416, Task Force Grey, during outside-the-wire counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence operations. On 27 February 2012, advisers renamed the 'base-in-a-box' portion of the base to Camp Estelle, in dedication to Air Force Major Raymond Estelle II, who lost his life 27 April 2011, during a shooting incident at the Afghan Command and Control Center in

4656-594: The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. Members of Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network were provided false Ariana identification that gave them free run of airports in the Middle East. According to people interviewed by the Los Angeles Times , Viktor Bout 's companies helped in running the airline. It was 2005 before a US-led, international effort began to rebuild the Afghan Air Force. Marion writes: In 2005,

4753-453: The United States beginning in May 2009 for English language training, to be followed by instrument training for the pilots and undergraduate pilot training for the pilot-candidates. This was the start of an initiative that, within the following years, was to produce a small cadre of seasoned, instrument-rated Afghan Air Force pilots as well as a larger number of younger, well-trained pilots to serve as

4850-477: The aircraft he was given were not made into a separate air arm until 1924. For the next decade, Soviet pilots performed the bulk of the flying and equipping for the AAF, probably about one-half of the aircraft were Polikarpov R-1s , a Soviet copy of the de Havilland DH.9A. Most AAF aircraft were destroyed in the civil war that began in December 1928, and it was not before 1937 that a serious rebuilding effort began. From

4947-415: The airfield at Jalalabad on a late September afternoon. Some scholars point to that event in 1986 as the turning point in the war. Moreover, for most of the remainder of the war when Stingers were known to be present, Soviet and Afghan aircraft elected to remain at higher altitudes where they were less vulnerable to the missile, but also less effective in ground attacks. Although employed extensively throughout

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5044-508: The airline to suspend overseas operations. In November 2001  ( 2001-11 ) , Ariana was grounded completely. According to the Los Angeles Times : With the Taliban's blessing, Bin Laden effectively had hijacked Ariana, the national civilian airline of Afghanistan. For four years, according to former U.S. aides and exiled Afghan officials, Ariana's passenger and charter flights ferried Islamic militants, arms, cash and opium through

5141-496: The airport in an attempt to leave the country. Seven people were alleged to have died at the airport after the crowds consisting of hundreds of people tried to forcibly enter planes leaving the airport. US forces fired in the air to prevent the crowds running onto the tarmac and runways. On 16 August 2021, the US Deputy Security Advisor announced the deployment of more forces to secure the airport. The Pentagon confirmed

5238-500: The airport switched between different sides during the civil war after 1992. By November 1996, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan governed by Mullah Muhammad Omar was in possession of the airport, until late 2001 when they fled the city after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan . Due to international sanctions during the Taliban government, the airport was closed in the late 1990s, with very limited international flights. Following

5335-486: The airport to Kabul International Airport , eliminating the reference to former Afghan President Hamid Karzai . A Pakistan International Airlines flight landed at the airport on 13 September, marking the first international commercial flight to land since the Taliban takeover. Mahan Air resumed flights to the airport on 15 September, marking resumption of commercial flights between Iran and Afghanistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 26 September announced that

5432-414: The airport's runway. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid stated on 6 September that Turkey and Qatar were trying to restart all flights from the airport. On 8 September 2021, a NOTAM was issued by the airport's NOTAM office, indicating that the airport is operating between 03:30 and 13:30 Coordinated Universal Time . Additional NOTAMs issued that day indicate that the airports instrument landing system

5529-488: The airport. Meanwhile, the security of the airport was handed over to the Al-Fatah Brigade of the special forces of the group on 3 September. The airport reopened for Ariana Afghan Airlines ' domestic flights between Kabul and the cities of Herat , Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar , as well as for receiving aid from other countries, on 4 September, following work carried out by a technical team from Qatar, which repaired

5626-578: The backbone of the Afghan Air Force for the next generation. Other NATC-A-led programs include English language and technical courses for AAF personnel in various specialties including aircraft maintenance, logistics, communications, and engineering. As of June 2009, the Air Force numbered about 2,400 airmen, with a planned strength of 7,400 airmen within several years. In late 2009, the AAF began receiving refurbished former Italian Air Force Aeritalia G.222 tactical transports , named C-27 in U.S. service, and Mi-17V5 Hip transport helicopters . In June 2010,

5723-454: The base defense mission mixed with a reduced contingent of Air Force Security Forces to create Task Force Griffin. Consisting of 240 Army and Air Force personnel and 350 Afghan security contractors conducting base defense operations in western Afghanistan. A small team of 15 soldiers from Bravo Battery conducted the first ever American/Italian joint operation in the RC West. The same 15-person team

5820-576: The base in 1997 after the Taliban took over the country, and the runway sustained massive damage during bombing when coalition forces initially entered Afghanistan in 2002. It was then taken by the 3rd Brigade, Central Corps , Afghan National Army , with advisors from the U.S. Army , in August 2004 when the country was under the Karzai administration . Elements of the 3/ 4 CAV of the 25th Infantry Division arrived two weeks later to reinforce this force. In 2010,

5917-420: The base was completed which tripled its size. Construction was scheduled to begin on a new 1.3-mile (2.1 km) NATO training runway in early 2012. This was canceled or suspended. The USACE added an additional 56,000 square meters (600,000 sq ft) of apron and taxiways capable of handling large strategic lift aircraft such as C-17s in 2012. A 1,200-square-meter (13,000 sq ft) cargo terminal,

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6014-483: The base. In the fall of 2011, Bravo Battery from the 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment , 37th IBCT , deployed to Shindand as Task Force Griffin (Task Force Roc). They provided base security, carried out patrol and assessment missions, checkpoint control and flight line security for the base. A squad consisting of 14 personnel from the Task Force, known as Rogue Squad, provided the tactical security element for

6111-426: The contractor, and made it necessary for the U.S. government to enter into a second more costly maintenance contract with Alenia North America to get aircraft operational. Since the C-27A aircraft purchased still had Italian military air worthiness certificates controlled by the company, Alenia North America effectively monopolized the entire supply chain making fair competition non-existent. This second contract inflated

6208-527: The country and resumed their work. As of July 2021, the Afghan Air Force had 161 aircraft with, as of May 2020, 7,505 personnel. There are four Afghan Air Force wings: The command center of the Afghan Air Force was located at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The Shindand Air Base in Herat Province served as the main training facility. Lt. Gen. Mohammad Dawran was the final Chief of Staff of

6305-568: The country. The mujahideen nicknamed the Mi-24 the "Devil's Chariot" due to its notorious reputation. After the Soviet withdrawal and the departure of foreign advisors, the Air Force declined in terms of operational capability. 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

6402-631: The damage to the airport's terminal alone due to the evacuation was $ 1 million. Several novels have been published following the dramatic US evacuation from the country. Those titles include: "Life and Death at Abbey Gate", "Saving Aziz", "Always Faithful", and "Kabul". Following the Taliban takeover, the airport was closed. Much of its infrastructure had been degraded or destroyed during the evacuation. According to Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani , Qatar

6499-513: The end of 2011, the AAF had 16 C-27As (on loan from the U.S. government) and 35 of the new Mi-8 Hips while continuing to operate the older Mi-17s and retiring the An-32 fleet. Further growth of the AAF depended on decisions regarding the size of the Afghan National Army which, in turn, determined AAF requirements. In a country of rugged terrain possessing limited ground transportation options,

6596-526: The end of 2011, the Afghan Air Force had a total of 4,900 airmen and personnel. By 2016 the Afghan Air Force was planned to expand to 8,000 airmen and 145 operational aircraft. To that end there was continuing expansion in infrastructure, training and maintenance facilities. The US also purchased modern equipment and aircraft including Russian Mi-17 helicopters. Significant investment went into purchasing modern training aircraft such as MD 500 helicopters and fixed-wing Cessna 182 and 208 planes. In 2016–17,

6693-417: The final Taliban offensive, the Taliban also deployed a secretive drone unit to attack high value targets such as government officials. On 1 September 2021, the Taliban flew a Black Hawk displaying the flag of the Taliban over Kabul. The top leadership of the Taliban announced their intentions to rebuild the Air Force. They have also encouraged US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan. However, only

6790-789: The head of U.S. Central Command , General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. , met Taliban leaders in Qatar . The Taliban officials agreed to terms set by McKenzie for refugees to flee using the Kabul International Airport. Following the fall of Kabul, the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police abandoned their posts. U.S. and allied forces subsequently took over the posts. On 16 August 2021, all commercial flights from Kabul Airport were cancelled indefinitely. On 26 August 2021, more than 100 people were killed in an explosion outside Kabul Airport. The Islamic State of Iraq and

6887-423: The intent of providing the Afghan Air Force a fleet that would last 10 years. However, the prime contractor in the refurbishment and supply of the planes, Alenia Aermacchi North America, a unit of Italian defense conglomerate Finmeccanica S.p.A., was unable to provide adequate maintenance support for the aircraft. As a result, the majority of the fleet at any time was grounded for safety of flight issues (including

6984-492: The land forces, the army, changed fundamentally under the Taliban from 1996 to 2001 , the air force was an exception in that the old structures and chain of command were maintained. With its founding in 1994 the Taliban invited former Communist Pilots to join their ranks which many Khalqists and Pashtun Parchamites willingly accepted due to ethnic solidarity or a despise for the Mujahedeen warlords who had not brought peace to

7081-492: The late 1930s until World War II, British Hawker Hind and Italian IMAM Ro.37 aircraft constituted the bulk of the Afghan Air Force, which by 1938 amounted to about 30 planes in service. The Hawker Hind remained in the Afghan inventory until 1957, and as of 2009 one former Afghan Air Force Hawker Hind still flew in the Shuttleworth Collection . In 1947, the Air Force was redesignated the Royal Afghan Air Force (RAAF),

7178-466: The nation. With the breakdown of logistical systems, the cannibalization of surviving airframes was widespread. The US air campaign in the fall of 2001 destroyed most of the remaining Afghan aircraft. After the end of the Soviet war in 1989 and collapse of Najibullah 's government, the Taliban took over Kabul in 1996. Afghanistan faced substantial economic sanctions from the international sector during

7275-637: The north, Jalalabad Airport in Nangarhar Province to the east, Khost International Airport in Khost Province to the southeast, and Bamyan Airport in Bamyan Province to the northwest. Kabul Airport was originally built during the Kingdom of Amanullah Khan in the 1920s, which housed aircraft of the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Post . It was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers. The airport

7372-617: The other for domestic flights. It also has a number of empty military bases, which were previously used by the United States Armed Forces and NATO 's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and later the Resolute Support Mission (RS). The Afghan Air Force also had a base at the airport, with the Afghan National Security Forces providing security inside the passenger terminals. Prior to

7469-534: The previous contract but the tendering process was cancelled after it was discovered that proper procedures were not followed. A winner for the new contract was expected in June 2013 with first deliveries expected to begin in the third quarter of 2014, about 15 months after originally planned. The Super Tucano was declared the winner of the contract again in 2013. The contract was to be completed by Sierra Nevada Corp. for 20 A-29 Super Tucanos with an expected delivery date of between December 2015 and 2018. DOD purchased

7566-431: The pro-Soviet government of Mohammad Najibullah . When Najibullah eventually fell in 1992 the Afghan Air Force may have counted 350 aircraft. The collapse of Najibullah's government in 1992 and the continuation of a civil war throughout the 1990s reduced the number of Afghan aircraft to some 35–40. During Operation Enduring Freedom in late 2001, in which the Taliban government was ousted from power, all that remained of

7663-407: The problems at the airport had been resolved and asked international airlines to resume their flights, promising full cooperation. The airport has two terminals: the original that opened in 1960 and a newer building that opened in 2008. The terminal that opened in 2008 is used for international flights; the original 1960 Soviet-constructed terminal is used for domestic flights. Several hangars along

7760-503: The runway are for military aircraft. There are no hangars for civilian (or transient) aircraft. The airport has seven helicopter pads which are used mostly for military traffic. Fire fighting equipment is present. The firefighting equipment has a present capacity of up to 12,000 litres (2,600 imp gal; 3,200 US gal) of water and has the ability to reach 90 metres (300 ft) in height to manage fire outbreaks. Buses, taxi and private cars provide transportation to and from

7857-508: The runway of the base was refurbished so that it is able to support all military aircraft, including the C-17 Globemaster III . Airmen from the 809th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron . The Red Horse personnel built two separate sets of parking aprons, aircraft shelters, and maintenance facilities at this location and installed all of the needed utilities. The 5/158 established Helicopter Parking in 2009/2010. In mid-2011, an expansion of

7954-512: The summer of 2021, in addition to a large-scale offensive by the Taliban , the mostly non-functional Air Force largely disintegrated. This culminated in the Fall of Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani fleeing to the United Arab Emirates . Large numbers of airmen either fled the country or stood down in the face of the Taliban, with many fixed and rotary-wing aircraft being destroyed or captured by

8051-435: The total program cost to over $ 600 million, and it would have cost over $ 1.2 billion had the U.S. opted to extend the contract up to 10 years. The contract with Alenia North America was eventually terminated. It was announced that the contractor had failed to meet their legal obligations, and that the Afghan Air Force would receive four Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, expected in 2013. The G-222 program legacy to

8148-469: The war as a ground attack platform, the Hind suffered from a weak tail boom and was found to be underpowered for some missions it was called upon to perform in the mountains of Afghanistan, where high density altitude is especially problematic for rotary-wing aircraft. Overall, the Hind proved effective and very reliable, earning the respect of both Soviet and Afghan pilots as well as ordinary Afghans throughout

8245-581: The withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021, the airport provided scheduled flights to and from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and the Persian Gulf region . The most frequently serviced destination from the airport has been Dubai in the UAE , with no fewer than four passenger airlines flying the route, and some with multiple daily flights. Other nearby major airports to Kabul are Bagram Air Base in neighboring Parwan Province to

8342-420: Was completed and turned over to the United States Armed Forces in October 2008. It houses the command facilities for the Afghan Air Force (AAF), and includes housing, administrative, operations, maintenance and recreation facilities. The project included two new hangar complexes, a new taxiway and ramps. It is the headquarters and main base (1st or 201st Wing) of the Afghan Air Force. The first hangar facility

8439-486: Was deposed and Mohammed Daoud Khan became the country's president. During his five years in power, until the Saur Revolution of 1978, 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 1979 the Air Force lost four Mi-8s. Improvements in the early-to-mid-1970s notwithstanding,

8536-407: Was expected be in possession of 46 Mi-17 helicopters by June 2012, with an additional 10 to be delivered by 2016. Kabul International Airport Kabul International Airport ( IATA : KBL , ICAO : OAKB ) is located in the northern part of Kabul , Afghanistan . It is one of the country's main international airports , capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. It

8633-430: Was initially put on hold due to fears of antagonizing India's regional rival Pakistan, but in 2014 India reached a compromise where instead of directly supplying the equipment it would instead pay Russia to deliver them. The deal included arms, ammunition and the refurbishment of weapon systems and aircraft left behind by the Soviets. India further agreed to help refurbish older Soviet-era aircraft in Afghan Air Force. As

8730-506: Was locally named Khwaja Rawash Airport because it was built in the area called Khwaja Rawash. Foreign tourists began visiting Afghanistan via Kabul Airport. This era ended after the 1978 Saur Revolution , especially after the 1979 Soviet invasion . The airport was used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet–Afghan War from 1979 to 1989, and by the military forces of the former President of Afghanistan , Mohammad Najibullah . Control of

8827-512: Was operated extensively during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, mainly for attacking mujahideen fighters. Early in the war, the only anti-air weapons of the mujahideen were Soviet made shoulder-launched, heat-seeking SAMs and American Redeye, which had either been captured from the Soviets or their Afghan allies or were supplied from Western sources. Many of them came from stocks the Israelis had captured during their wars with Soviet client states in

8924-472: Was reported shot down by Uzbekistan air defenses, then the Prosecutor General's office in Uzbekistan issued a statement saying that an Afghan military plane had collided mid-air with an Uzbekistan Air Force MiG-29 , finally it also retracted the statement about the mid-air collision. Afghan pilots which escaped to Tajikistan were held in a sanitorium until they were freed in November 2021. During

9021-576: Was the first established tactical security detail for OSI's Expeditionary Detachment 2416, Taskforce Grey (Ghost). The lead OSI Special Agent for this team would go on to be awarded the Bronze Star. During the late 2000s through the end of 2014, the Mongolian national army played a role in base security through the use of U.S. MRAPs, fortified guard posts and foot patrols. The Mongolian army worked closely alongside ISAF and NATO forces during their occupation of

9118-527: Was to send technical assistance to Afghanistan to help reopen the airport as soon as possible. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu , the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey , stated that the Taliban and other countries had requested Turkey for help in resuming operations at the airport. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands , Sigrid Kaag , stated that her government was willing to support Turkey and Qatar in reopening

9215-482: Was turned over to the AAF in January 2008. The second hangar was completed later that year. In July 2021, the Taliban took over many areas in Afghanistan, including those near Kabul Airport. Turkey announced that it would provide security at the airport. U.S. and NATO forces were still deployed at the airport as well. A few weeks later, Kabul fell into the hands of the Taliban , prompting hundreds of people to flee to

9312-606: Was upgraded to cover Afghanistan's entire air space. In October 2014, the National Assembly of Afghanistan proposed naming the airport after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai , a month after his tenure ended, in recognition of his services and contributions to the country's rebuilding. This decision was approved by the Cabinet of the new President Ashraf Ghani , which renamed the structure as Hamid Karzai International Airport . The North Side Cantonment – Kabul Airport facility

9409-407: Was used for U.S. led undergraduate pilot training of the Afghan Air Force. The U.S. military Crash, Fire, and Rescue which had officially started up in 2009, closed in November 2014, switching to contractors. Shindand was home to the 3rd Wing of the Afghan Air Force until August 2021. For several years, the U.S. Air Force 's 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group operated at the base supporting

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