Armée Afghane/Afghan National Army(ANA)

Citation :

Afghanistan orders additional MD 530F helos

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
11 January 2016


Afghanistan has ordered a further 12 MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F Cayuse Warrior ('Jengi' [Warrior]) light attack platforms to add to the 16 it currently fields, the company announced on 11 January.

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to receive the 12 additional helicopters equipped with the same Enhanced Mission Equipment Package (EMEP) that has been fitted to the 12 armed helicopters that the service received in 2015 (one of which was lost in a training accident), and retrofitted to five of the six unarmed training helicopters it received in 2011 (one was lost to an improvised explosive device in 2013).

This EMEP comprises a seven-tube M260 launcher for 70 mm (2.75 inch) rockets and FN Herstal 12.7 mm (.50 cal) Heavy Machine Gun Pods (HMPs); the DillonAero Mission Configurable Aircraft System (MCAS), and a fixed forward-sighting system; as well as ballistic armour for the two-person crew; and enhanced communications and fuel systems. To accommodate the extra weight of this equipment, the helicopters have been upgraded with high-capacity landing gear that allows take-off and landing with a maximum weight of 1,700 kg.

MDHI did not disclose when these new helicopters will be handed over to the AAF, except to say that they will arrive in time "to meet the needs of the 2016 fighting season". The company noted that the previous 12 were all delivered within nine months of the contract being awarded by the Department of the Army Non-Standard Rotary-Wing.

The AAF's intention to order additional MD 530Fs was first reported by IHS Jane's in January 2015, when a senior service official speaking at the IQPC International Military Helicopter conference in London said that a total of 20 armed helicopters would be delivered in addition to the five remaining unarmed trainers; a number that appears to have increased slightly with this new contract announcement.

Citation :

Afghan Air Force received its four first A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft

Afghanistan received four A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from the United States, the country’s Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday. "The turboprop aircraft can fire guided rockets," Dawlat Waziri told the Pajhwok Afghan News agency. "The jets would help bolster the Afghan Air Force," he added.





A further four aircraft is due to head to Afghanistan before the end of 2016. A fleet of 20 will be in place by 2018. The US Department of Defense purchased the Super Tucanos in a $427 million contract with Sierra Nevada Corp. and Embraer, with the aircraft produced at Embraer's facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Pilot training is undertaken by the U.S. Air Force's 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

The A-29 Super Tucano, manufactured by Brazilian Embraer aerospace company, is able to carry out advanced training, border surveillance and internal security missions.

In late December 2015, India delivered the first of four planned Mi-25 attack helicopters to the Afghan government as part of their assistance to the country's army as well.


http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2016/january/2304-afghan-air-force-received-its-four-first-a-29-super-tucano-light-attack-aircraft.html

Citation :

After year leading fight, Afghan forces see ‘mixed’ results

By Agence France-Presse -January 20, 2016



A year after officially taking over the fight against Taliban and other insurgent forces in Afghanistan, local security troops have scored only “mixed results,” a US general said Tuesday.

Despite billions of dollars in training, donated equipment and assistance over more than a decade, Afghan troops still are having trouble in many situations, said Brigadier General Wilson Shoffner, a top spokesman for the US military in Afghanistan.

“Our assessment of their performance in 2015 is that they had mixed results,” Shoffner told Pentagon reporters in a video call.

Thirteen years after a US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan with the goal of toppling the Taliban and smashing Al-Qaeda, local Afghan forces began leading the fight at the start of 2015, with thousands of Western troops remaining in a “train, advise and assist” role.

Shoffner said the Afghans had done “fairly well” whenever they conducted planned operations, but they performed poorly in response to crisis situations.

“It required more time to get forces in position, and then it required more time to stabilize the situation,” he said.

“That remains one of their weaknesses and one of the areas they’re going to have to continue to focus on into 2016,” he added.

Still, he noted Afghan special forces troops had become “increasingly capable” and cited two raids where they performed “flawlessly.”

Last year saw several brazen Taliban attacks, including the lightning takeover of Kunduz in September. Afghan forces quickly pushed them back in a counterattack supported by US and other Western troops.

Today, the Taliban maintain control in nine out of 404 Afghan districts and “have influence” over about 17 others, Shoffner said. Further, he warned the so-called Islamic State is now “operationally emergent” in Afghanistan.

The jihadists have in recent months been expanding their area of operations beyond Iraq and Syria and launched attacks in several countries including Libya and Afghanistan.

Shoffner said IS fighters were trying to establish a base in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.

“We have seen Daesh in other parts of the country,” he added, using an Arabic acronym for the IS group.

“What we’ve seen … are small pockets that mainly consist of low-level recruiting and propaganda; we haven’t seen it organized. We’re not seeing a significant amount of money coming into Afghanistan to support Daesh.”

– Intractable corruption –

Adding to the Afghan forces’ woes is a corrupt chain of command in some units and an overall shortage of about 25,000 recruits needed to fill the ranks of the Afghan national army and national police force.

Many troops simply quit or decide not to re-enlist, Shoffner said — often because they aren’t even getting paid.

“If they can address the attrition issue, that’s getting the leadership to make sure that soldiers are paid, that they’re fed and that they get their proper leave and they’re treated properly, that’ll go a long way to retaining the soldiers that they have,” he said.

Shoffner noted the Afghan air force last week took delivery of the first four of 20 A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft it ordered.

“This will be a significant increase in their capability to provide their own close air support,” he said.



Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/after-year-leading-fight-afghan-forces-see-mixed-results-66443/#ixzz3xmNKARsJ

Citation :

India’s Mi-35 helicopters ready for first battle in Afghanistan
Jan 21, 2016




Afghanistan today said three of the four multirole Mi-35 helicopters that India donated to it last month have been assembled and are now fully operational to combat terrorism in the war-torn country.

According to the Defense Ministry, the helicopters will be used in the ongoing Helmand battle for the first time.

“We have always been helped by India. The helicopters donated by India to Afghanistan have been assembled and will help us fight terrorists,” Tolo news agency quoted Ghulam Sakhi Ahmadzai, deputy chief of procurement of the Defense Ministry, as saying.

Thanking India for its cooperation, air force commander Abdul Wahab Wardak said help from regional and global countries was crucial for bringing peace and stability to the country.

“The [Indian) helicopters are very suitable for the climate and the location of the country and they can give further morale to the security forces in their operations against terrorists,”  ..

Read more at economictimes.indiatimes.com


http://defence-blog.com/news/indias-mi-35-helicopters-ready-for-first-battle-in-afghanistan.html

Citation :

Pentagon Contract Announcement

(Source: U.S. Department of Defense; issued January 21, 2016)

Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a $55,268,755 firm-fixed-price contract for the Afghanistan Trainer Program. Contractor will provide interim contractor support of 18 C-208 B aircraft and one C-208 aircrew training device, including maintenance and training.

Work will be performed at Kabul Air Base and Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2017. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to the country of Afghanistan.

This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2015 Afghanistan Security Forces funds in the amount of $18,251,442 are being obligated at the time of award.

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8617-16-C-6208).

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/170585/cessna-wins-%2455m-to-support-afghan-c_208b-caravans.html

Citation :

En plein processus de paix, Moscou offre 10.000 kalachnikov à Kaboul


AFP 24/02/2016

La Russie, inquiète des progrès du groupe Etat islamique en Afghanistan, a offert mercredi aux forces afghanes 10.000 kalachnikov au titre de la coopération "contre le terrorisme", à l'heure où le gouvernement afghan tente de relancer le processus de paix avec les talibans.

Livrés en grande pompe sur le tarmac de l'aéroport militaire de Kaboul, les 10.000 fusils d'assaut seront "directement transférés à nos forces de sécurité", a déclaré Hanif Atmar, conseiller à la sécurité nationale du président afghan Ashraf Ghani. Ils serviront à combattre le "terrorisme international, une menace pour l'Afghanistan, pour toute la région mais aussi pour nos amis russes".
"Nous poursuivons nos efforts pour la paix, mais notre nation doit être capable de se défendre", a aussi expliqué M. Atmar. Malgré les 60 milliards de dollars dépensés par Washington depuis 14 ans pour les équiper et les former, les forces de sécurité afghanes ont toutes les peines du monde à contenir les talibans.

Kaboul tente de renouer un dialogue avec les talibans pour ramener la paix dans un pays déchiré par un conflit qui dure depuis la chute du régime islamiste en 2001. Mardi, à l'issue d'une nouvelle réunion quadripartite avec la Chine, les Etats-Unis et le Pakistan, l'Afghanistan a dit "espérer" qu'une date soit fixée d'ici début mars pour la reprise de ce dialogue direct, interrompu l'été dernier. Les talibans n'ont pas encore réagi à cette annonce.

La Russie ne fait pas partie de ce quartette. Et pour cause: dans une interview donnée il y a 10 jours à l'agence de presse publique Ria Novosti, Zamir Kaboulov, le représentant spécial du Kremlin pour l'Afghanistan a dit en avoir "assez de s'associer à toutes les initiatives lancées par Washington" pour restaurer la paix, des entreprises "futiles", selon lui.

Et lors de la cérémonie de remise des kalachnikov mercredi, l'ambassadeur de Russie à Kaboul, Alexander Mantitski, a souligné que la coopération entre son pays, l'Otan et les Etats-Unis en Afghanistan avait pris fin en avril 2014 "à l'initiative de l'Occident". A l'époque, l'Alliance atlantique avait décidé de mettre fin à la coopération militaro-technique avec la Russie en représailles au conflit en Ukraine. En revanche, Moscou va continuer à "coopérer" directement avec son partenaire afghan, a indiqué le diplomate.

Car la Russie observe avec inquiétude les progrès réalisés par les jihadistes de l'EI dans l'est de l'Afghanistan. L'EI y compte de nombreux combattants originaires d'Ouzbékistan et du Tadjikistan, deux anciennes républiques soviétiques frontalières de l'Afghanistan.

http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/972117/en-plein-processus-de-paix-moscou-offre-10000-kalachnikov-a-kaboul.html

Citation :

Afghan A-29s forward deployed to eastern province of Nangarhar

Franz J Marty, Kabul - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

01 March 2016


An AAF A-29 at Kabul military airport on 23 February. The AAF's first four examples of the type have now forward deployed to Jalalabad
Airfield in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar. Source: Franz Marty


The four Embraer/Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft recently acquired by the Afghan Air Force (AAF) were forward deployed to Jalalabad Airfield in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar on 28 February.

The four A-29s - the first of 20 such airframes that the United States is providing to the AAF - only arrived in Afghanistan on 15 January and were initially stationed at the military airport in Kabul.

The aircraft, which are fully combat ready, are intended to give close air support (CAS) to ground operations performed by the Afghan National Army's (ANA's) 201st Corps, although as of 1 March they had not yet flown any combat sorties, according to Major Shirin Agha, spokesman for the 201st Corps.

That is likely to change, however, given the recent fighting in Nangarhar, in particular due to government operations against the self-declared Islamic State there, which have reportedly included several airstrikes by coalition and Afghan air assets.

So far the A-29s and their Afghan pilots have only flown training sorties over Kabul and Jalalabad to familiarise themselves with the terrain, AAF commander Lieutenant General Abdul Wahab Wardak told IHS Jane's on 23 February.

Afghan officers remained unspecific on the A-29s' armament; for example, Brigadier General Suleiman Shoh, commander of the Kabul Air Wing, was quoted by Afghan channel TOLOnews as saying that the A-29s are able to deploy "modern bombs", but did not elaborate on this.

However, as seen during a visit by IHS Jane's to the military airport in Kabul on 23 February, the four AAF A-29s are equipped with two drop tanks and two seven-round 70 mm rocket pods (one under each wing) as well as two internally mounted .50-calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns (one in each wing). The aircraft are also equipped with a FLIR Systems Brite Star II electro-optical/infrared turret ball for targeting and surveillance.

Citation :

Afghanistan : les Super Tucano sur le pied de guerre

Publié le 7 avril 2016/Actualité Industrie et matériels



C’est le général Abdul Wahab Wardak, chef d’état-major de l’armée de l’air afghane, qui a donné en ce mois d’avril 2016 le feu vert pour les premières opérations aériennes des nouveaux chasseurs-bombardiers légers A-29 Super Tucano livrés tout récemment par les Etats-Unis au régime afghan, afin d’y prendre la relève des derniers hélicoptères d’attaque russes Mi-24 / Mi-35, aujourd’hui à bout de souffle au terme de plusieurs décennies d’utilisation opérationnelle, et malgré l’ajout de cellules rénovées offertes il y a quelques années déjà par la République tchèque.

En prélude aux premiers vols de combat réalisés cette semaine par les Super Tucano dans le ciel afghan, le 11 février dernier sur l’aéroport international Hamid Karzaï de Kaboul, le président afghan Ashraf Ghani a présidé la cérémonie qui a marqué la renaissance officielle de l’aviation militaire afghane — Quvat-é Hava-yé Afghanistan — sous l’égide de l’assistance militaire des Etats-Unis. L’arrivée des premiers des vingt Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, assemblés en Floride par la firme Sierra Nevada, constitue en effet la dernière touche à la reconstitution d’une force aérienne afghane indépendante et homogène. C’est ce qu’a tenu à faire remarquer le président Ghani devant les aviateurs militaires afghans, pour la plupart très jeunes ou fraîchement sortis de formation.

Formés en Géorgie, au sein du 81st Fighter Squadron (réactivé en septembre 2014 et associé au 14th Flying Training Wing) de l’USAF sur la base aérienne de Moody depuis un an tout juste, les premiers des 30 pilotes et 90 mécaniciens afghans d’A-29 Super Tucano ont une particularité intéressante : ils sont tous jeunes, âgés d’une vingtaine d’années, et font partie intégrante de la nouvelle génération d’aviateurs afghans n’ayant aucun lien avec les forces du passé éduquées à l’école soviétique, ni même avec les moudjahidin des années de guerre civile. Volontaires, préalablement entraînés et qualifiés en école de base à Shindand, au sud de Hérat, sur des matériels nouveaux, les pilotes et «rampants» de l’armée de l’air afghane actuelle y ont appris à voler et travailler sur avion ou sur hélicoptère U.S. depuis quatre ans déjà. Y compris la première femme pilote de la nouvelle armée nationale, la sous-lieutenante Nilufer Rahmani, brevetée en mai 2013 et aujourd’hui pilote de Cessna 208 d’Evasan à Kandahar. Un sujet de recrutement visible et largement exploité, contre la propagande misogyne des talibans, par les médias gouvernementaux à Kaboul.

Arrivés en vol seulement le 15 janvier dernier au soir sur l’aéroport de la capitale, au terme d’un très long convoyage à travers l’Atlantique et la Méditerranée, débuté le 21 décembre 2015 à Norfolk en Virginie, c’est à bord du porte-conteneurs «MV Cape Race» que les quatre premiers avions sont arrivés d’une seule pièce au tournant de l’année sur la base navale U.S. de Rota en Espagne pour y être remis en condition et poursuivre leur voyage par les airs via la Crète, la Turquie et l’Iran. Accueillis au but par Mohammad Massom, actuel ministre afghan de la Défense, ces premiers appareils (pilotés par des instructeurs de l’USAF) ont été rejoints, depuis, par quatre autres arrivés fin mars portant ainsi l’effectif afghan courant à huit A-29, juste de quoi permettre les premières missions de combat au profit des troupes au sol prêtes à repousser l’offensive de printemps des talibans, annoncée à grands renforts de communiqués belliqueux.

Remarquablement bien dotés en moyens radio (postes V/UHF cryptés et Satcom) pour les liaisons aussi bien avec les troupes au sol qu’avec les états-majors tactiques, les A-29 afghans — assemblés et modifiés par Sierra Nevada à Jacksonville en Floride dans le cadre d’un contrat de 427 millions de dollars entièrement financé par le Pentagone — disposent aussi d’une boule FLIR (montée derrière le logement de train avant) pour les opérations de nuit et le pointage, de même que des lance-leurres et des blindages additionnels sur les flancs et sous le moteur destinés à les protéger contre des impacts de petit et moyen calibres. Si les avions EMB-314 (LAS) A-29 USAF serial numbers 13-2001 à 2006 sont destinés à rester à Moody AFB jusqu’à la fin du programme de formation, seuls les n° 2007 (YA1407) à 2014 (YA1414) ont été remis pour l’instant à l’armée de l’air afghane. Tous ces avions, y compris les n° 2015 à 2020 non encore livrés, sont du modèle A-29B et au standard du projet Light Air Support «Imminent Fury», un projet sous cape défini par l’U.S. Navy à partir du Retex opérationnel des forces spéciales colombiennes. Un résultat probant obtenu dans leur efficace lutte antiguérilla réalisée avec l’appui des A-27 Tucano et A-29 Super Tucano contre les maquis des FARC et de l’ELN. Armés de deux mitrailleuses de 12,7 mm dans les ailes, les A-29B afghans, tout comme ceux de la Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, peuvent emporter roquettes et bombes, y compris des munitions guidées laser. De quoi faire face aux talibans lors des embuscades contre l’Armée nationale afghane.

Rappelons que depuis décembre 2014 et le retrait du gros des forces combattantes U.S. décidé par le président Obama, l’Otan n’assure plus aucune mission de soutien aérien à l’ANA, laquelle ne peut désormais compter que sur ses propres moyens, soit une centaine d’hélicoptères (Mi-17, Mi-35, MD 530F et UH-1H) et une trentaine d’avions de transport (Cessna 208, An-32 et C-130H), des machines largement financées par les gouvernements U.S. et indien. Pour le brigadier général Christopher Craige, patron du 438th Air Expeditionary Wing de Kaboul, unité chargée de la formation, de l’entraînement et du soutien U.S. à l’armée de l’air afghane, il ne fait aucun doute que l’arrivée des A-29 va apporter un regain de puissance de feu et de réaction important aux forces gouvernementales, qui continuent à payer un lourd tribut face à la rébellion islamique. Rien que l’an passé, plus de 16 000 blessés et tués ont été décomptés dans les rangs de la police et de l’ANA, soit 28 % de plus qu’en 2014 avec 12 500, du fait de l’accroissement des attaques des talibans. Le général Craige est aussi le commandant en chef du TAAC-Air, composé de plus de 600 militaires et «contractors», y compris en provenance des pays alliés que sont le Danemark, l’Italie, la Croatie, la Grèce, la Hongrie, la Roumanie, la République tchèque et la Turquie. Tous assistent le 438th AEW dans sa mission d’instruction et de soutien technique auprès de l’armée de l’air afghane. Rappelons que les Etats-Unis ont encore 9 800 soldats sur le territoire afghan, un nombre que le président Obama veut réduire à 5 500 au cours de cette année.

http://www.ttu.fr/afghanistan-super-tucano-pied-de-guerre/

Citation :

En ordre de marche, les talibans afghans lancent leur traditionnelle offensive de printemps
Posté dans Afghanistan, Opérations par Laurent Lagneau Le 12-04-2016

i

À vrai dire, en raison de la clémence de cet hiver, on n’a pas l’impression que le mouvement taleb afghan ait ralenti le rythme de ses opérations au cours de ces dernières semaines.

Ainsi, début mars, l’on a appris que les forces afghanes avaient dû se retirer de plusieurs districts des provinces du Helmand et d’Uruzgan. Des retraits « tactiques », a-t-on expliqué à Kaboul, afin de se concentrer sur les zones urbaines, jugées prioritaires. Et, selon les chiffres avancés par la mission Resolute Support, menée par l’Otan, au moins 5.500 policiers et soldats afghans ont perdu la vie lors de ces derniers mois.

Aussi, le début, ce 12 avril, de la traditionnelle offensive de printemps des taliban afghans, n’est pas vraiment une annonce. Si ce n’est qu’il faut s’attendre dès à présent à davantage d’attaques et de violences dans les régions où Kaboul peine à maintenir sa présence.

Cette nouvelle offensive de printemps a été appelée « Opération Omari », en l’honneur du mollah Omar, le fondateur du mouvement taleb, dont le décès a été annoncé l’an dernier.

« Le jihad contre l’armée infidèle agressive et usurpatrice est un devoir sacré qui repose sur nos épaules et notre seul moyen de rétablir un système islamique et de reprendre notre indépendance », a fait valoir le mouvement taleb afghan, dans un communiqué. Et, a priori, il n’est nullement question d’engager des pourparlers de paix avec Kaboul.

« L’opération emploiera tous les moyens qui sont à notre disposition pour harceler l’ennemi, miner le moral des envahisseurs étrangers et leurs milices armées », a encore ajouté le mouvement taleb, qui, comme les années précédentes, a de nouveau pris l’engagement d’éviter autant que possible « les victimes civiles » et d’endommager les équipements publics. Or, on a vu, par le passé, que ce n’était pas toujours le cas, bien au contraire…

L’offensive lancée par les taliban en 2015 avait été marquée par la prise, pendant quelques jours, de la ville de Kunduz, dans le nord du pays. À l’époque, le mouvement était pourtant traversé par des dissensions, dues essentiellement par la remise en cause de l’autorité du mollah Mansour, le successeur désigné du mollah Omar.

Il en ira autrement cette année car, justement, le mollah Mansour a pu reprendre en main ses troupes, les cadres s’étant opposés à lui ne représentant plus de menace. Le mollah Dadullah a en effet été « supprimé » et le mollah Mansour, qui avait pris, en novembre 2015, la tête d’une faction rivale, aurait été mis à l’ombre par les services de renseignements pakistanais, lesquels exercent une grande influence sur le mouvement taleb afghan.

En outre, le mollah Mansour, critiqué par la famille du mollah Omar, a su s’attirer les bonnes grâces de cette dernière. Le fils aîné et un des frères du fondateur du mouvement taleb, à savoir Mohammad Yaqoob et le mollah Abdoul Manan, ont ainsi été nommés au comité militaire de la Choura de Quetta, l’organe décisionnaire des taliban.

« Mansour a bien compris que le temps était venu de faire tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour éliminer la plus grande faiblesse des talibans: leurs luttes de pouvoir internes », a expliqué, à l’AFP, Michael Kugelman, analyste au centre de réflexion américain Woodrow-Wilson.

« Mansour se prépare à une vaste offensive militaire et à encore plus de victoires spectaculaires remportées sur le gouvernement cette année », a confié, à la même source, le mollah Qasem, un ancien cadre du mouvement taleb basé dans le Helmand. « Une fois qu’il aura remporté ces victoires, peu de commandants oseront encore remettre son autorité en question », a-t-il ajouté.

Reste à voir ce que feront les États-Unis, qui comptent encore 9.800 soldats dans le pays, dont des moyens aeriens indispensables pour assurer des appuis aux forces afghanes. Le général Nicholson, qui commande la mission Resolute Support, mène actuellement une évaluation stratégique de la situation, laquelle pourrait conduire à une réduction drastique des effectifs militaires déployés par Washington. Si tel est le cas, l’accent serait alors mis sur des opérations antiterroristes visant à empêcher le retour d’al-Qaïda (et l’émergence de l’État islamique) en Afghanistan. Mais pour combien de temps?




http://www.opex360.com/2016/04/12/en-ordre-de-marche-les-talibans-afghans-lancent-leur-traditionnelle-offensive-de-printemps/

Citation :

ANA takes delivery of first ScanEagle UASs

Franz J Marty, Kabul - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
11 April 2016



The first two of eight Insitu ScanEagle unmanned aerial systems (UASs) designed to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for ground forces have recently arrived in Afghanistan, according to the NATO-led 'Resolute Support' mission in the country.

One of the two systems, deployed to Camp Shorab in the restive southern province of Helmand, is already being operated by six field service representatives from the coalition alongside three Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel serving as mission commanders, 'Resolute Support's' Public Affairs Office confirmed to IHS Jane's on 9 April.

The second system will be deployed to the northern city of Mazar-i Sharif and be part of a training centre due to become operational this month that will run a four-month course training Afghan soldiers to operate the ScanEagle UAS, US Air Force Major Erin Tedesco, ScanEagle advisor for the ISR Capabilities Integration Cell (ISR-CIC) of 'Resolute Support', said on 5 April.

Citation :

Afghan Army's ScanEagle UAV made inaugural flight

The inaugural launch of a ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle in Helmand, Afghanistan marked new intelligence gathering capability for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The Helmand ScanEagle site is the first of eight in Afghanistan that will be operational in the next two and a half years.








http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :

Afghan forces undertake multiple operations against Taliban offensive
Franz J Marty, Kabul - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
22 April 2016
Key Points
Operations are under way in the provinces of Kunduz and Badakhshan to counter Taliban offensive
Government forces are hampered by lack of co-ordination and effective use of heavy equipment by insurgents
The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) countered a major offensive launched by insurgents on 15 April across the northern province of Kunduz, only days after the Taliban announced the annual spring offensive. Meanwhile, on 20 April, the ANDSF also launched an operation to retake the Taliban-held district of Warduj in the northeastern province of Badakhshan.

On 15 April, the Taliban attacked several district centres in Kunduz as well as outposts as close as 3 km from Kunduz city, which fell briefly to the insurgency last autumn, and 1 km from the city's airport, where the regional headquarters of the Afghan National Army (ANA) is located.

quote]Russia, Afghanistan Set 'Legal Foundation' in Military Cooperation


The Russian defense minister noted that the level of cooperation between Russia and Afghanistan had considerably increased.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The level of joint actions between the military structures of Russia and Afghanistan have considerably grown and the countries have set “a legal foundation” in military-technical cooperation, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.

“It’s nice to note that the level of joint actions have considerably grown as of late. After a long pause we were able to create ‘a legal foundation’ for our bilateral military-technical cooperation,” Shoigu said.

Afghanistan has been mired in a long-simmering war against Taliban terrorists. Formed in the 1990s, the Taliban seeks to enforce Sharia law in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. The group is known for numerous terrorist attacks against authorities and civilians in both countries.



Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160427/1038688532/russia-afghanistan-cooperation.html#ixzz471DNmx00








[/quote]

Citation :

Les États-Unis manquent d’informations fiables sur les capacités opérationnelles des forces afghanesPosté dans Afghanistan, Opérations, Otan par Laurent Lagneau Le 29-04-2016



En savoir plus sur http://www.opex360.com/2016/04/29/les-etats-unis-manquent-dinformations-fiables-sur-les-capacites-operationnelles-des-forces-afghanes/#mz1b0auLtUitPoy4.99

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Afghan A-29 COIN fighters begin combat operations
May 4, 2016




For the first time since the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the AAF has engaged in live combat using modern-day fixed-wing combat aircraft.

In April, the Afghan Air Force (AAF) reached a major milestone in its development. For the first time since the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the AAF has engaged in live combat using modern-day fixed-wing combat aircraft.

At the core of its revived fixed-wing fighter fleet is the Embraer / Sierra Nevada A-29 Super Tucano. The A-29 is a close variant of the Embraer EMB-314, a lightweight turboprop aircraft designed for basic fighter training, close air support (CAS), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

As part of the Light Air Support (LAS) program, envisaged to provide the U.S. and a number of its allies with dedicated counterinsurgency (COIN) combat aircraft, the AAF was slotted to receive 20 A-29s. The first four A-29s were delivered in January of this year, with another four joining the AAF in March.

It is evident that the AAF’s revival is being anchored on COIN and CAS. As far as its leading patron – the U.S. – is concerned, neutralizing armed non-state actors (that threaten Kabul) is the AAF’s mission at this time. In the lead-up to the A-29 Super Tucano, the AAF inducted MD-530 lightweight utility helicopters and Mi-24/35 air assault helicopters.

With its 1550kg payload (spread across five hard-points), the A-29 Super Tucano is pitched as a COIN and CAS aircraft capable of deploying precision-guided munitions, such as laser-guided missiles as well as laser and INS/GPS-guided bombs. In effect, the A-29 should be capable of engaging moving ground targets as well as fortified fixed positions.

The ‘payoff’ of using an A-29 over say a multi-role fighter jet such as the F-16 is the A-29’s substantially lower operational cost. By using a less demanding turboprop powerplant, the A-29 is viewed as having a substantially lower per-hour flight cost than the F-16 or another comparable fast jet.

While one may debate the cost-benefit value of these platforms, it is difficult to deny one of the most glaring truths of today’s COIN environment – the minimal anti-air warfare (AAW) threat posed by most of today’s non-state actors.

A multi-role fast jet capable of flying at high-altitude would have considerable cushion against low-altitude AAW methods, such as man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS). But we have yet to see dedicated COIN platforms such as the A-29 take on such high-risk environments, especially against MANPADS that could potentially make use of modern imaging infrared (IIR) seekers (which boast considerable protection against electronic countermeasures or ECM).

On the other hand, this fact does not discard or undermine the potential cost-savings of using an A-29-like platform in a low AAW-threat environment; if one’s reality is of low AAW threats, why not use the cheapest platform capable of fulfilling the task?

The A-29s are being provided to the AAF on Washington’s dollar, so the move to equip the AAF in this manner (around COIN-specific platforms) could be seen as intentional – to weaken the insurgent drive in Afghanistan. Harmonization (with the platform, CAS tactics, etc.) aside, it will be important to see if the AAF manages to dampen the momentum of non-state actors with the Super Tucano.

(Source: Quwa; posted 02.05.2016)




http://defence-blog.com/news/afghan-a-29-coin-fighters-begin-combat-operations.html

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As Afghanistan Ramps Up Airstrikes, Air Force Relies on Unguided Bomb


The Afghan military has increased its airstrikes against the Taliban over this year, but civilian casualties are an increasing concern, given that the air force relies on unguided, or "dumb," bombs.

Earlier this year, Afghanistan received four A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft from the United States. Intended to boost the Afghan Air Force’s efforts against the Taliban, the new fighters have carried out over 260 air raids to date. Last month, airstrikes carried out in Kandahar province killed 15 militants.

With four additional A-29’s preparing to enter service, as well as a fleet of US-provided MD-530 helicopters, concerns are rising about the Afghan military’s reliance on "dumb" bombs that lack appropriate targeting technology.
"We are cautiously optimistic about the coming months because overall we do believe that they have some momentum right now," said US Army Gen. Charles Cleveland, spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan and NATO’s Resolute Support missions, according to Military.com.
"We do believe that the [Afghan National Defense and Security Forces] ANDSF has performed better this year than they were performing last year. They are getting better in employing their newer capabilities."


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160607/1040889778/afghan-airstrikes.html#ixzz4Atb9mFeZ

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Afghan Air Force gets five more MD 530F attack helicopters

Franz J Marty, Kabul - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
20 June 2016


ive additional MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopters arrived in Kabul on 17 June to boost the Afghan Air Force's (AAF's) capability to support Afghan National Army ground operations.


The latest delivery raises the number of such airframes provided by the United States to the AAF from 13 to 18. A further nine aircraft are scheduled for delivery by the end of August 2016, which would increase the number of the AAF's MD 530Fs to a pre-arranged total of 27.

"These five latest [MD 530Fs] have the capability to fire rockets or .50 calibre machine guns, and sighting systems that are not on the previously delivered helicopters," said Lieutenant Colonel Bill Ashford, commander of the US Air Force's (USAF's) 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron.

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Harris has been awarded a $1.7 billion contract to supply Afghanistan with Harris radios


Harris Corp was awarded a $1.7 billion firm-fixed-price, multi-year foreign military sales contract to supply Afghanistan with Harris radios, ancillaries, spare parts and services, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.





http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2016-06-23T08:46:00-07:00&max-results=10

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Afghanistan receives more armed MD 530F helicopters

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
18 July 2016


The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has received into service a further five MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F Cayuse Warrior ('Jengi' [Warrior]) light attack platforms, the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing/Train, Advise, Assist Command - Air (TAAC-Air) announced in mid-July.

The helicopters arrived at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul aboard a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airlifter on 16 July, bringing the AAF's total inventory up to 23.

This delivery came one month after a previous batch of five was handed over at the same location. The final four are set to be delivered to the AAF in the coming weeks, for a final inventory of 27 helicopters.

Deliveries of the MD 530F to the AAF began in 2011, at which time the service received six unarmed platforms for rotary-winged training. One of these was later lost to an improvised explosive device in 2013.

The first of 20 armed MD 530F to be fitted with the Mission Equipment Package (MEP) began arriving in March 2015. This MEP comprises the FN Herstal 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP), upgraded communications equipment, fuel systems, and ballistic protection for the crew. In July 2015 it was announced that all of the AAF's helicopters would be fitted with the new Enhanced-MEP (EMEP), which saw the addition of a 70 mm rocket capability to the baseline MEP, including the fitting of a fixed forward-sighting system.

With a second MD 530F being lost in September 2015 (this time to an accident), it was revealed in January 2016 that a further 12 were to be acquired on top of those already ordered. These new deliveries took place at the same time as already-delivered helicopters were returned to the US for retrofit with the EMEP, meaning that the delivery plan and handover rate to the AAF has not been linear.

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18 juil. 2016 | Par Guillaume Belan
L'Afghan air force reçoit 5 nouveaux hélicoptères de combat


L'Afghan air force (AAF) vient tout juste d'être livré de 5 nouveaux hélicoptères américains légers de combat MD530 Cayuse Warrior. Ces hélicoptères sont équipés de systèmes de vision, de mitrailleuse calibre .50 et de pod de roquettes. Cet armement en fait de redoutables hélicoptères de combat. Les 5 hélicoptères sont arrivés à l'aéroport international d'Hamid Karzaï à Kaboul à bord d'un avion de transport de l' US Air Force C- 17 Globemaster III , ce 16 Juillet , ce qui porte l'inventaire total de l' AAF à plus de 20 hélicoptères de combat légers MD-530.
Cette livraison s'inscrit dans le cadre de la remontée en puissance de l'AAF, un outil clef de la reprise du contrôle de l'armée du territoire afghan.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/l-afghan-air-force-recoit-5-nouveaux-helicopteres-de-combat-79349

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Afghanistan Plans to Buy Russian Mi-17, Mi-35 Helicopters


Kabul intends to strike a deal on buying Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters from Russia.

KABUL (Sputnik) — Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar is planning to agree on the purchase of Russian helicopters for the country's Air Force during his upcoming Moscow visit, the press service said Sunday.

"One of the major aims of the visit is to purchase Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters for Afghan Air Force," the press service said in a statement, adding that Kabul is expected to negotiate maintenance and repair as well.

During the visit, which is set to kick off on July 25, Atmar is expected to meet with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev.

Broader political and security cooperation, as well as bilateral anti-terror and anti-drug strategies are likely to be on agenda of the talks as well, the statement said.



http://sputniknews.com/military/20160724/1043552107/afghanistan-russia-mi-35.html