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Afghan National Army Air Corps: February 2009 Update
By CJ Radin, February 20, 2009, The Long War Journal
Afghan National Army Air Corps: February 2009 Update - The Long War Journal
The Afghan Security Force Order of Battle has been updated at the ASF OOB homepage. The significant changes and developments to the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) order of battle are summarized below.
Force Development and Training
The ANAAC is currently focused on developing its air transport capability. For operational and strategic transportation support, the ANAAC is adding fixed-wing transport for capability to transfer troops and supplies across the country. For tactical support, the ANAAC is adding helicopter transport for infantry deployments. A specific emphasis is in providing each commando battalion with a four-helicopter detachment to allow air mobility for tactical and quick response force operations. Additionally, the ANAAC is providing helicopter medical evacuation support plus fixed- and rotary-wing VIP transport.
The ANAACs organization development is focused on pilot training, maintenance training, and construction of facilities. At least 301 pilots have been trained. In 2008, 46 pilot candidates were selected from the National Military Academy of Afghanistan and from current Afghan National Army members. In 2009, these pilot candidates will begin two years of training in the US, Canada, and India.
ANAAC personnel first complete 16 weeks of basic training at the Kabul Military Training Center before transfer to the Kabul Air Corps Training Center (KACTC) for aviation training. KACTC started its first class in maintenance support skills training on April 5, 2008. As of December 2008, 357 students were in training at KACTC.
The Kabul ANAAC Headquarters, Joint Aviation Facility (maintenance), and Air Corps Training Center faculties have been constructed. A facility at Kandahar Airfield is currently under construction.
Operations
The capacity and capabilities of the ANAAC have continued to improve as the service gains experience executing re-supply missions, troop movements, and humanitarian assistance operations. The ANAAC now operates from Kabul, Gardez, Jalabad, Herat and Kandahar airfields. The first MI-17 presidential transport mission was flown on Oct. 28, 2008.
Jan-Mar 2008: The ANAAC flew 3,331 passengers, 16,285 kg of cargo, 162 sorties, and nine HRR/MedEvac missions.
Sep-Nov 2008: The ANAAC flew 8,498 passengers, 102,000 kg of cargo, 789 sorties, and 98 HRR/MedEvac missions.
Planned Force Structure
From published information, the force structure of the Afghan National Army Air Corps can be inferred. The current plan is to complete this structure by the end of 2015. However, with the acceleration of Afghan National Army development recently approved, it is likely that ANAAC development will also be accelerated.
The ANAAC is to be a total of 7,400 personnel and 126 aircraft:
61 MI-17 transport helicopters:
58 MI-17v5 configured for troops transport.
3 MI-17DV configured for VIP transport.
9 MI-35 attack helicopters.
28 fixed-wing cargo aircraft:
20 C-27 (2 configurable for VIP transport).
6 AN-32.
2 AN-26.
28 fixed-wing single-engine turboprop light attack aircraft with precision weapons capability.
These personnel and aircraft are to be organized into a force structure, including two wings, three regional support squadrons, and two detachments.
Kabul Wing - 3,700 personnel supporting 201st Corps and the Capitol Division, equipped with:
14 fixed-wing cargo aircraft.
14 light attack aircraft.
16 transport helicopters to support 201st Corps Commando Battalion and the three commando battalions in the National Commando Brigade.
2 transport helicopters for Medical Evacuation (MedEvac).
3 attack helicopters.
Kandahar Wing - 2,500 personnel supporting the 205th Corps, equipped with:
14 fixed-wing cargo aircraft.
14 light attack aircraft.
4 transport helicopters to support 205th Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
Gardez Regional Support Squadron - Supporting the 203rd Corps, equipped with:
4 transport helicopters to support 203rd Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
Herat Regional Support Squadron - Supporting 207th Corps, equipped with:
4 transport helicopters to support 207th Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
Mazir-e-Sharif Regional Support Squadron - Supporting 209th Corps, equipped with:
4 transport helicopters to support 209th Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
VIP Transport Detachment - Kabul, equipped with:
3 transport helicopters.
There is also an unidentified detachment, whose purpose and composition are currently unknown.
The ANAAC is a work-in-progress that continues to develop and improve. In 2007, NATO forces flew 90 percent of the missions in support of Afghan Army. Today, the Afghan National Army Air Corps flies 90 percent of its own missions.
By CJ Radin, February 20, 2009, The Long War Journal
Afghan National Army Air Corps: February 2009 Update - The Long War Journal
The Afghan Security Force Order of Battle has been updated at the ASF OOB homepage. The significant changes and developments to the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) order of battle are summarized below.
Force Development and Training
The ANAAC is currently focused on developing its air transport capability. For operational and strategic transportation support, the ANAAC is adding fixed-wing transport for capability to transfer troops and supplies across the country. For tactical support, the ANAAC is adding helicopter transport for infantry deployments. A specific emphasis is in providing each commando battalion with a four-helicopter detachment to allow air mobility for tactical and quick response force operations. Additionally, the ANAAC is providing helicopter medical evacuation support plus fixed- and rotary-wing VIP transport.
The ANAACs organization development is focused on pilot training, maintenance training, and construction of facilities. At least 301 pilots have been trained. In 2008, 46 pilot candidates were selected from the National Military Academy of Afghanistan and from current Afghan National Army members. In 2009, these pilot candidates will begin two years of training in the US, Canada, and India.
ANAAC personnel first complete 16 weeks of basic training at the Kabul Military Training Center before transfer to the Kabul Air Corps Training Center (KACTC) for aviation training. KACTC started its first class in maintenance support skills training on April 5, 2008. As of December 2008, 357 students were in training at KACTC.
The Kabul ANAAC Headquarters, Joint Aviation Facility (maintenance), and Air Corps Training Center faculties have been constructed. A facility at Kandahar Airfield is currently under construction.
Operations
The capacity and capabilities of the ANAAC have continued to improve as the service gains experience executing re-supply missions, troop movements, and humanitarian assistance operations. The ANAAC now operates from Kabul, Gardez, Jalabad, Herat and Kandahar airfields. The first MI-17 presidential transport mission was flown on Oct. 28, 2008.
Jan-Mar 2008: The ANAAC flew 3,331 passengers, 16,285 kg of cargo, 162 sorties, and nine HRR/MedEvac missions.
Sep-Nov 2008: The ANAAC flew 8,498 passengers, 102,000 kg of cargo, 789 sorties, and 98 HRR/MedEvac missions.
Planned Force Structure
From published information, the force structure of the Afghan National Army Air Corps can be inferred. The current plan is to complete this structure by the end of 2015. However, with the acceleration of Afghan National Army development recently approved, it is likely that ANAAC development will also be accelerated.
The ANAAC is to be a total of 7,400 personnel and 126 aircraft:
61 MI-17 transport helicopters:
58 MI-17v5 configured for troops transport.
3 MI-17DV configured for VIP transport.
9 MI-35 attack helicopters.
28 fixed-wing cargo aircraft:
20 C-27 (2 configurable for VIP transport).
6 AN-32.
2 AN-26.
28 fixed-wing single-engine turboprop light attack aircraft with precision weapons capability.
These personnel and aircraft are to be organized into a force structure, including two wings, three regional support squadrons, and two detachments.
Kabul Wing - 3,700 personnel supporting 201st Corps and the Capitol Division, equipped with:
14 fixed-wing cargo aircraft.
14 light attack aircraft.
16 transport helicopters to support 201st Corps Commando Battalion and the three commando battalions in the National Commando Brigade.
2 transport helicopters for Medical Evacuation (MedEvac).
3 attack helicopters.
Kandahar Wing - 2,500 personnel supporting the 205th Corps, equipped with:
14 fixed-wing cargo aircraft.
14 light attack aircraft.
4 transport helicopters to support 205th Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
Gardez Regional Support Squadron - Supporting the 203rd Corps, equipped with:
4 transport helicopters to support 203rd Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
Herat Regional Support Squadron - Supporting 207th Corps, equipped with:
4 transport helicopters to support 207th Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
Mazir-e-Sharif Regional Support Squadron - Supporting 209th Corps, equipped with:
4 transport helicopters to support 209th Corps Commando Battalion.
2 transport helicopters for MedEvac.
2 attack helicopters.
VIP Transport Detachment - Kabul, equipped with:
3 transport helicopters.
There is also an unidentified detachment, whose purpose and composition are currently unknown.
The ANAAC is a work-in-progress that continues to develop and improve. In 2007, NATO forces flew 90 percent of the missions in support of Afghan Army. Today, the Afghan National Army Air Corps flies 90 percent of its own missions.
