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Afghan National Army-Air Force
The Afghan Air Force on parade
Active	1924 -
Country	Afghanistan
Allegiance	Afghan National Army
Size	45 aircraft[1]
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Mi-24
Fighter	MiG-21
Trainer	L-39
Transport	An-26, An-32, Mi-8

The Afghan Air Force is a service branch of the Military of Afghanistan, which is responsible for air defense and air warfare. It was established in 1924, but by the 1990s it reduced to a very small force when the country was witnessing civil war. The Afghan Air Force is currently being rebuilt and modernized by the NATO nations, mostly by the Military of the United States.

The Afghan Air Force was officially formed 22 August 1924 with a few aircraft obtained from Russia as early as 1921. This small force was destroyed in 1929, and not reconstituted again until 1937. It was renamed the Royal Afghan Air Force in 1947 along with political changes in the country, a title it retained until further political upheaval in 1973.^[2]

The Air Force had remained a relatively small branch of service until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the consequent Soviet support for the regime. While the Afghan Air Force was equipped with a large number of aircraft, many of them were manned and maintained by 'advisors' from Czechoslovakia and Cuba, and the quality of Afghan pilots was extremely limited.

The Air Force had as many as 7,000 personnel plus 5,000 foreign advisors. Large numbers of aircraft were available, but were all of older design. Strength changed rapidly as combat operations and Soviet supplies continued, but typical strength during the middle of the 1980s was:^[3]

• 3 x Interceptor squadrons (around 40 MiG-21)
• 4 x Fighter-bomber squadrons (around 50 MiG-17)
• 3 x Bomber squadrons (around 20 Il-28)
• Transports (around 15 An-26)
• Helicopters (around 30 Mi-24, Mi-8, and Mi-4)

After the Soviet withdrawal and the departure of foreign advisors, the Air Force declined rapidly as an effective force. Large numbers of aircraft were reported, but many were not operational, a number that rose through the 1990s. The Air Force ceased to be a single entity, instead breaking up amongst the different factions in the ensuing wars. By the end of the decade, both the Taliban and the Afghan Northern Alliance had a number of aircraft under their control, with either able to muster a small force (six to eight aircraft) to support major operations. This was done to a large degree through cannibalization of surviving airframes. These forces were ultimately finished off by American military operations in 2001.

The Afghan Air Force was at its strongest between 1980-1992, which had a large number of aircraft. Afghanistan's neighboring countries were uncomfortable with the growing military power of the Afghan Air Force. In the late 1980s the Afghan Air Force also had chemical and biological bombs, supplied by USSR.

MI-35 helicopters of the Afghan Air Force (AAF)

The Mil Mi-24 Assault helicopter has a long history in Afghanistan. The aircraft was operated extensively during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, mainly for bombing Afghan Mujahideen fighters. The US supplied heat-seeking Stinger missiles to the Afghan Mujahideen, and the Soviet Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters proved vulnerable to rebel attacks. The Hind gunships constituted a part of the 333 helicopters lost during combat operations in Afghanistan, an unknown number to ground fire. The cockpit was heavily armoured and could withstand even .50 caliber (12.7 mm) rounds, but the Hinds tail is extremely vulnerable due to the lack of armour in that section.

The heat-seeking nature of the anti-aircraft weapons employed by the Mujahideen combined with the Hind's exhaust being directly under the main rotor caused the aircraft to disintegrate if hit. This was remedied later by countermeasure flares and a missile warning system being installed into all Soviet Mi-4, Mi-8, and Mi-24 helicopters giving the pilot a chance to evade by flying high above the range of the missile.

During this conflict, the Hind proved effective and very reliable, earning the respect of both Soviet and Afghan pilots, who scattered as quickly as possible when Soviet target designation flares were lit nearby. The Mujahideen nicknamed the Mi-24 as the "Devil's Chariot" due to its notorious reputation. Since the end of the Soviet war, the civil war, and the U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan, the Afghan Air Force only has six of these helicopters available. They still continue to be Afghanistan's lead aircraft.

L-39 Albatross jets of the Afghan Air Force (AAF).

As of early 2006 the Afghan National Army - Air Corps had 14 rotary wing and 8 fixed wing aircraft in serviceable condition. The Air Corps is being rebuilt following several decades of war. Most recent efforts involve airlift support for the disaster relief efforts following a major earthquake in Pakistan.^[4]

The Afghan Air Force has never been a strong independent force. Most of its equipment are Russian-built relics of an arsenal including MiG-21 jet fighters and Mi-24 helicopter gunships built up during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s to combat the resistance of the US-backed mujahideen groups.

The Afghan tendency towards de-centralization of military forces and the limited ability of the Afghan economy to pay for expensive equipment combine to make maintenance of a viable Afghan Air Force impossible without steady foreign infusions of money, equipment, and expertise.

It is possible that the neglect of the Afghan Air Force is due to the massive American air power that has been made available. Nevertheless, in a country with extremely poor infrastructure, air transport capacity would be extremely useful to the Afghan government. The Afghan government, with the help of the US-led coalition, is in the process of building up its airforce in the coming years. In April 2007, Defense Minister of Afghanistan, Abdul Rahim Wardak, said his country would have 200 aircraft in the coming three years. However, he did not explain which country would provide the planes.^[1]

Antonov An-32 cargo plane of the AAF.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense is also seeking the return of 26 aircraft — nine helicopters, five bombers, eight fighters, two trainer jets and two transports. Some of the planes are believed to have been used for dramatic escapes while others were secretly moved out of the country to save them from destruction. Officials say 19 are in Pakistan and seven in Uzbekistan.

The Afghan government is negotiating the purchase of Cessna T-37 Dragonfly jet aircraft as its main fighter/trainer. It is also reported that they are looking into the possibility of using the Beechcraft AT-6 as its main fighter/trainer. The Antonov An-26 is Afghanistan's main transport aircraft. It is a twin-engined light turboprop transport aircraft and is a development of the Antonov An-24, with particular attention made to the potential military use. It has a modified rear fuselage with a large cargo ramp. Afghanistan's Air Force holds two Antonov An-26 types, they are not seeking any more.

AAF MI-17 helicopters

It was revealed in 2007 that the United States would provide 186 aircraft to the Afghan Air force, with deliveries to be completed before 2012. The first of these deliveries would be in August 2007 with 6 helicopters, consisting of Mi-17, Mi-24 and Mi-35, arriving from the Czech Republic. The shipments that will come in several batches will include transport helicopters, helicopter gunships, reconnaissance planes and other fixed wing aircraft. However, the US will not supply any jet aircraft as of yet because NATO already have them in the country. The package will also include the training of 4,450 Afghan Air Force personnel such as pilots and engineers. It is also planned that by 2012, Afghanistan will have full control over all its bases except for Bagram Air Base, which is one of the main hubs for US troops.^[5][6]

See full article: List of Afghan Air Force aircraft

The Afghan Air Force inventory was significantly reduced following the Soviet withdrawal from the country and nearly eliminated in 2001. The reconstituted air force remains small with only the remnants of its Eastern Bloc inventory, as yet not having acquired western types to outfit its units.

Aircraft	Source	Type	In service[7]	Versions	Notes
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia/ Czech Republic	Trainer	2
Antonov An-26 Curl	Soviet Union /  Ukraine	Tactical transport	2
Antonov An-32 Cline	Soviet Union /  Ukraine	Tactical transport	2		Four An-32 being delivered from Ukraine.
Mil Mi-24 Hind	Soviet Union /  Russia	Assault helicopter	6	Mi-24 Mi-25 Mi-35	Only five operational. Six additional Mi-35 are being delivered from the Czech Republic.
Mil Mi-8 Hip	Soviet Union /  Russia	Transport helicopter	7	Mi-8 Mi-8PS Mi-17	Additional Mi-17 to arrive from; Czech Republic:6 Slovakia:1 UAE:10

Crew of the Afghan National Air Corp washing down an MI-17 helicopter at Kabul International Airport

Base	Operator	Description
Bagram Air Base (OAIX)	United States Army -	Bagram is the largest purely military air base in Afghanistan. It is currently a primary center for United States and allied forces for cargo, helicopter, and support flights. Built in 1976, it has a 3,000 m runway capable of handling heavy bomber and cargo aircraft.
Kabul International Airport (OAKB)	ISAF (Norwegian Defence Force - )	Kabul is the nation's largest airport and the primary hub for international civilian flights. It also is capable of handling military aircraft, and has been used by American forces for cargo flights.
Kandahar International Airport (OAKN)	United States Air Force-NATO -  United States/	Kandahar is a dual-use airport serving civilian traffic to Kandahar and military support for the southern and central portions of the country. Kandahar has been a major center for American and Canadian forces.
Mazari Sharif Airport (OAMS)	ISAF (German Army -  Germany) / Afghanistan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation -	Mazari is a dual-use airport serving the northern and central portions of the country. A small American contingent has been based there.
Herat Airfield (OAHR)	United States Air Force -  United States	Herat is the primary civil airport for the eastern portion of the country, but also housed military aircraft.
Shindand Airbase (OASD)	Afghanistan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation -	Shindand is the second largest military airbase in the country, located just south of Herat with significant military aircraft shelters and facilities.
Sheberghan Airfield (OASG)	Afghanistan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation -	Sheberghan is a medium sized civilian airport in the northeast of the country.

A number of smaller airfields exist in the country, including:

• Qala i Naw Airport (QAQN) in Badghis province - single 6,980 feet gravel (04/22)
• Bamyan (OABN) - single 8,515 feet gravel runway (7/25)
• Dehdadi - single 8,472 feet gravel runway (08/26)
• Fayzabad or Razer (OARZ) - single 2,858 feet gravel runway (08/26)
• Ghazni
  • Ghazni (OAGN) - aerodrome with single 1,000 feet runway (15/33)
  • Band E Sardeh Dam (OABT) - single 6,902 gravel runway (02/20)
• Jalalabad (OAJL)- single 7,277 feet asphalt runway (13/31)
• Khowst or Khost (OAKS) - single 8,805 feet gravel runway airfield (06/24)
• Konduz or Kotubkhel (OAUZ) - single 8450 feet gravel runway (14/32)
• Maimana (OAMN) - single 4224 feet gravel runway (14/32)
• Meymaneh - single runway
• Nili (OANL) - single 2400 feet gravel runway (18/36)
• Taloqan or Taluqan (Taloqan) (OATQ) - single 5165 feet gravel runway (08/26) for helicopters only
• Teh Wareh (OATW) - single 1,950 feet gravel runway (18/36)
• Yangi Qala (OAYQ) - single 2,140 feet gravel runway (03/21)

This facility is under construction with completion due in mid 2008. It will house the command facilities for the Afghan Air Corps, and includes housing, administrative, operations, maintenance and recreation faclities. The project includes two new hangar complexes, new taxiway and ramps. It will be the new core of the Afghan Army Air Corps.

Roundel introduced in 1967; also used as a fin flash.

Variants of this emblem adorned many Afghan military aircraft in 2006. The three letters are the initials of Afghan Melli-e Ourdou (Afghan National Army).

During its first incarnation, Afghan aircraft carried simple black and white depictions of the Muslim arms of Afghanistan, with the inscription 'God is great' on the underside of the wings. The Afghan flag was possibly used as well. Afghanistan adopted a black, red, and green flag after the 1929 revolt, and when the air force was given planes again in 1937, it placed this flag on the rudder, and adopted wing and fuselage roundels based on the three colors.

The Royal Afghan Air Force retained the roundels until adopting a new style in 1967, with a unique insignia consisting of a tri-color triangle using the national colors upon a white disc, on which was inscribed with Arabic lettering forming various phrases. This roundel was placed on the rudder in place of the flag. This remained in use after the overthrow of the monarchy until the Russian invasion in 1979, when a new insignia of a red disc with yellow inscriptions was adopted. This was short-lived however, as in 1983, a more Soviet-standard red star on a white disc ringed in black, red, and green was adopted. These were maintained until after the Soviet departure.

Upon the departure of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, and the fall of the communist government, a return to the triangle insignia was noted, although markings varied depending on the ownership of the aircraft.

• Afghan National Army
• Military of Afghanistan
• International Security Assistance Force
• Provincial Reconstruction Team
• NATO

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Afghan Air Force

• Defendamerica.mil article on the training of Afghan pilots
• Globalsecurity.org page on the Afghan Air Force
• Photos of Afghan aircraft
• Roundels of the world, Afghanistan