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Fourth C-130 Touches Down In Kabul, Expands Afghan Air Force Capabilities

Major Shaitan Singh

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Afghanistan: A C-130 Hercules touched down at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, June 20, bringing expanded flight capabilities to the Afghan Air Force.

After a weeklong journey beginning at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, the arrival of the C-130 in Afghanistan’s capital city illustrates a partnership that will provide increased tactical airlift and mobility operations throughout Afghanistan and beyond.

In 2010, coalition partners recognized that C-130s could provide the Afghan Air Force with increased airlift, resupply and casualty evacuation capabilities, and a plan to supply the Afghan Air Force with a fleet of their own was born. Two aircraft arrived in mid-2013, with a third the following summer. The arrival of the fourth and final C-130 from the United States signifies a program five years in the making, and well worth the wait, said Faulk.

“These C-130s are the Afghan Air Force’s first four engine aircraft with this type of expanded capability,” said Denver native Lt. Col. Tyler Faulk, deputy director of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan’s Security Assistance Office. “This fleet allows them to transport supplies or troops within Afghanistan, as well as to partner nations where they can execute missions, trainings and exercises; a whole host of international activities.”

Faulk explained that the C-130 is a medium-lift aircraft, capable of expediting troop and supply movement, and allows for international reach, making it “a huge force multiplier.”

“Afghanistan needs to perform more missions and having a fourth C-130 allows for that,” said Afghan Air Force Capt. Muhammad Azimy, a C-130 pilot who has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the aircraft. “We need to support more troops, moving them as soon as possible from one point to another, getting them into the fight faster. Getting commandos from the north to the south by helicopter would take days, but by C-130 it will take only a few hours.”

“The new fleet is a complete departure from anything the Afghan Air Force has owned before,” said Faulk.
Before bringing the planes into a fully operational status, personnel were familiarized with the new equipment and technology. Aviators, mechanics and loadmasters trained in the United States in preparation for the arrival of the fleet, and the Afghan Air Force can now conduct regular maintenance and training in country.

As the Foreign Military Sales executor, the Security Assistance Office brought together the requirements needed from the Train, Advise, Assist Command – Air advisers, and connected them with available equipment in the U.S. inventory. After each plane’s arrival, they transitioned to supporting the sustainment of the aircraft.

“Our end goal is to get them to self-sufficiency, and train them well enough that they are able to take over the entire process from development of the capability, through procurement, sustainment and even life cycle management.”

Faulk has no doubts the Afghan Air Force will be able to step up to the challenge. He stressed the collaboration between Afghanistan and the Security Assistance Office played an important role in the successful procurement of the fleet.

“This was a massive effort taken on by the Afghans, but we’ve been around every step of the way to help ensure the mission’s success,” he said.

“It’s a very effective aircraft, and will accomplish a lot of missions for the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and even President Ghani,” said Azimy. “This fourth C-130 is very important to us.”
 
Afghanistan needs better CAS capability, that should be the main priority for the ANAAF.
 
Well, we can rejoice -- I'm pretty sure none of these aircraft use the Batteries that Humvees do -- These mythical batteries have caused a sharp decline in Humvee serviceability in the ANSF -- and since these great aircraft don't use those batteries they should be fine.

Btw can some of our members who are knowledgable about military strategy, the art of war, tactical doctrine, aeronautical engineering, avionics, control theory and divine intervention enlighten us on the number of squadrons the Taliban Air Force fields and how these shiny new aircraft delivered, courtesy the US Taxpayer, stack up against the Taliban Air Force's order of battle. Thank you.
 
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sorry meant the Taliban Air Force -- corrected it.
Okay then. A proper sarcastic jibe....................................................................but erroneous.
None of ANAAF inventory is for Air-Air combat. Its either CAS or logistics support.
 
Okay then. A proper sarcastic jibe....................................................................but erroneous.
None of ANAAF inventory is for Air-Air combat. Its either CAS or logistics support.

Oh the Taliban Air Force has both this thing you CAS and Air-Air (is it like Air Konditioning)
 
Okay then. A proper sarcastic jibe....................................................................but erroneous.
None of ANAAF inventory is for Air-Air combat. Its either CAS or logistics support.
Actually,, C-130 is not for air to air engagement role,,, :( cant understand what he was trying to get at.

On topic, this is good for Afghanistan, the need CAS and air lift and evacuation platforms. A few assault and transport helicopters will be of great help.
 
Actually,, C-130 is not for air to air engagement role,,, :( cant understand what he was trying to get at.

On topic, this is good for Afghanistan, the need CAS and air lift and evacuation platforms. A few assault and transport helicopters will be of great help.

He was trying to get at key Humvee maintain hoti nahain chaly C-130 uranay maray Tax dollars pay.
 
:lol:
well that is a different thing now :) true may be but different!! :P

Janab main Amreeki Tax payer houn -- baray mehrabani maray tax dollars say C-130 na khareedain -- Zarai ki jaib say khareed key Afghanistan ko dainay hain to zarror dain.
 
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Janab main Amreeki Tax payer houn -- baray mehrabani maray tax dollars say C-130 na khareedain -- Zarai ki jaib say khareed key Afghanistan ko dainay hain to zarror dain.
That too is a valid argument!! but you government must have some agenda, (not conspiracy) some motive why they first invaded, destroyed and now are trying to help or at least claiming to help Afghan government by these support programs. You need to perhaps study what that is and if you think it is all a scam you must address and raise you voice against the government spending. Since i am not an American tax payer i don't know why the government invaded these lands in the first place and why after bombing it to stone age are now saying they want to build it up again.
 
That too is a valid argument!! but you government must have some agenda, (not conspiracy) some motive why they first invaded, destroyed and now are trying to help or at least claiming to help Afghan government by these support programs. You need to perhaps study what that is and if you think it is all a scam you must address and raise you voice against the government spending. Since i am not an American tax payer i don't know why the government invaded these lands in the first place and why after bombing it to stone age are now saying they want to build it up again.

Oh I raise my voice - write to my congress man and so are other Americans. Luckily the largess is coming to and end.
 
but you government must have some agenda, (not conspiracy) some motive why they first invaded, destroyed and now are trying to help or at least claiming to help Afghan government by these support programs.
first invaded
To bring justice to 9/11 perpetrators and the people who provide them with sanctuary.
destroyed
After years of Taliban rule, there wasn't much left to destroy.
and now are trying to help or at least claiming to help Afghan government by these support programs
To ensure Taliban cannot return and once again start terrorist-spawning factories, reversing all their hard work and the progress made by a secular and democratic government which respects human rights including those of women.
 
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