India to restore grounded aircraft in Afghanistan

[Hindustani78]

NEW DELHI: November 27, 2016 23:48 IST
Updated: November 28, 2016 00:27 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...Afghanistan/article16711883.ece?homepage=true

After supplying four attack helicopters to Afghanistan, India is quietly moving to qualitatively scale up military assistance in terms of long-term spares and support.

This involves a trilateral framework with Russia, officials confirmed to The Hindu who said it is likely to be discussed by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they meet on the sidelines of the sixth Heart of Asia (HoA) ministerial conference in Amritsar later this week, which will be attended by Russia as well.

Two Indian Air Force technical teams visited Afghanistan last month to assess the requirements for spares and maintenance to restore the Soviet-era helicopters and transport aircraft lying there, defence and diplomatic sources told The Hindu.

“There are at least 40-50 helicopters of various types and some An-32 medium transport aircraft which have been grounded from a long time for need of spares. We have asked Indian help in refurbishing them,” diplomatic sources stated.

The teams were tasked to assess the requirements and submit a report on what can be provided by India from its existing inventory and what needs to be procured from Russia which is the original manufacture of the hardware, a Defence Ministry source said. “Based on that we will work out a model with Russia where they will supply the necessary equipment and we will pay for it,” the source added.

Trilateral cooperation

This effectively formalises the trilateral mechanism which was mooted in 2014 in the backdrop of withdrawal of troops by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) but did not make progress at that time due to reluctance of the then UPA government.

Kabul had long been requesting India for offensive military hardware and has several times presented a wish list of urgent military hardware. A revised list was handed over to India in August during the visit of the Chief of Afghan National Army General Qadam Shah Shahim and was discussed at the highest level during Mr. Ghani’s visit in September.

Priority items on the list include utility and attack helicopters, tanks, artillery, ammunition and spares, in addition to help in reviving some of the Soviet-era equipment and factories in Afghanistan.

No new hardware

“The current assessment is specifically for spares and support for the helicopters and aircraft with Afghanistan and does not include supply of new hardware from India. We are waiting for a response from India,” sources said and added that the idea is to extend it other areas as well in future.

India has supplied three Cheetal utility helicopters, and in a major policy shift, agreed to transfer four Mi-25 attack helicopters from its inventory last year. While India seems to be open to supplying lethal hardware, involving Moscow is inevitable as most of the equipment is manufactured in Russia.

This was evident in the case of an Mi-25 helicopter that was grounded due to lack of spares which had to be procured from Russia.

 

[Hindustani78]

According to Wall street journal article

http://www.wsj.com/articles/cargo-planes-for-afghan-air-force-to-be-scrapped-1412859933
Oct. 9, 2014 9:05 a.m. ET
In December 2012, the U.S. Air Force scrapped plans to buy a fleet of 20 transport planes for the Afghan military after acknowledging that the 16 refurbished planes delivered to the Afghan military weren’t in flying condition. The issue was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

According to the U.S. government’s Afghan watchdog, those 16 planes are now being cut up for scrap.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

The US tax payer would be shocked to know how much waste has taken place. Coalition funds missing, equipment lost. Bureaucratic hurdles leading to wastage or misallocation. It's astounding

 

[Syed Taha Wajahat]

focus on Tejas first please

 

[Thorough Pro]

Hope india can learn something from them to incorporate in Tejas

NEW DELHI: November 27, 2016 23:48 IST
Updated: November 28, 2016 00:27 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...Afghanistan/article16711883.ece?homepage=true

After supplying four attack helicopters to Afghanistan, India is quietly moving to qualitatively scale up military assistance in terms of long-term spares and support.

This involves a trilateral framework with Russia, officials confirmed to The Hindu who said it is likely to be discussed by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they meet on the sidelines of the sixth Heart of Asia (HoA) ministerial conference in Amritsar later this week, which will be attended by Russia as well.

Two Indian Air Force technical teams visited Afghanistan last month to assess the requirements for spares and maintenance to restore the Soviet-era helicopters and transport aircraft lying there, defence and diplomatic sources told The Hindu.

“There are at least 40-50 helicopters of various types and some An-32 medium transport aircraft which have been grounded from a long time for need of spares. We have asked Indian help in refurbishing them,” diplomatic sources stated.

The teams were tasked to assess the requirements and submit a report on what can be provided by India from its existing inventory and what needs to be procured from Russia which is the original manufacture of the hardware, a Defence Ministry source said. “Based on that we will work out a model with Russia where they will supply the necessary equipment and we will pay for it,” the source added.

Trilateral cooperation

This effectively formalises the trilateral mechanism which was mooted in 2014 in the backdrop of withdrawal of troops by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) but did not make progress at that time due to reluctance of the then UPA government.

Kabul had long been requesting India for offensive military hardware and has several times presented a wish list of urgent military hardware. A revised list was handed over to India in August during the visit of the Chief of Afghan National Army General Qadam Shah Shahim and was discussed at the highest level during Mr. Ghani’s visit in September.

Priority items on the list include utility and attack helicopters, tanks, artillery, ammunition and spares, in addition to help in reviving some of the Soviet-era equipment and factories in Afghanistan.

No new hardware

“The current assessment is specifically for spares and support for the helicopters and aircraft with Afghanistan and does not include supply of new hardware from India. We are waiting for a response from India,” sources said and added that the idea is to extend it other areas as well in future.

India has supplied three Cheetal utility helicopters, and in a major policy shift, agreed to transfer four Mi-25 attack helicopters from its inventory last year. While India seems to be open to supplying lethal hardware, involving Moscow is inevitable as most of the equipment is manufactured in Russia.

This was evident in the case of an Mi-25 helicopter that was grounded due to lack of spares which had to be procured from Russia.

 

[asad71]

With the pathetic record of their maintenance, Afghans are asking for flying coffins - for which IAF is famed.

 

[illuminatidinesh]

The US tax payer would be shocked to know how much waste has taken place. Coalition funds missing, equipment lost. Bureaucratic hurdles leading to wastage or misallocation. It's astounding

Reminds me of recent movie WAR DOGS

 

[Hindustani78]

With the pathetic record of their maintenance, Afghans are asking for flying coffins - for which IAF is famed.

2015 Photos

Mig-21 Fishbed aircraft sits with rusted hardware in an open field near Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan

 

[krash]

2015 Photos

Mig-21 Fishbed aircraft sits with rusted hardware in an open field near Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan

Those pictures are not from Afghanistan, they are from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute.

http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2015/09/abandoned-russian-mig-aircraft-graveyard-ledovo-moscow/

 

[lastofthepatriots]

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/afghan-air-force-and-army-female-officers-off-to-india-for-training-03973

For the first a time a group of female officers of the Afghan air force and the Afghan military left for India to participate in training.

The Embassy of India in Kabul in a statement said “For the first time, a batch of 20 Lady officers from the Afghan Army and Afghan Air Force departed for a training module at Officers Training Academy, Chennai.”

The statement further added “Ambassador of India H.E Manpreet Vohra addressed the officers prior to their departure.”

This comes as reports emerged late in October suggesting that the government of India is mulling to increase security-related assistance to Afghan national defense and security forces, it has been reported.

According to the local media reports, New Delhi agreed to provide more security-related assistance based on needs of Afghanistan’s defence and police forces.

The commitment was reportedly made after President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s visit to New Delhi where he met with his Indian counterpart, PM Narendra Modi and other senior Indian officials during a one-day State visit.

India has played a major role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime and has invested over $2 billion in various reconstruction and infrastructure projects.

The construction of the major Salma Dam, the new Afghan parliament building, Zaranj-Delaram highway, and some other projects are among the key investments India has done so far in the country.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Chief of General Staff, Afghan National Army, Lt. Gen. Mohd. Sharif Yaftali paying homage to the martyrs, at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, in New Delhi on December 11, 2017.

The Chief of General Staff, Afghan National Army, Lt. Gen. Mohd. Sharif Yaftali inspecting the Tri-Services Guard of Honour, in New Delhi on December 11, 2017.

The Chief of General Staff, Afghan National Army, Lt. Gen. Mohd. Sharif Yaftali meeting the Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, in New Delhi on December 11, 2017.

The Chief of General Staff, Afghan National Army, Lt. Gen. Mohd. Sharif Yaftali meeting the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, in New Delhi on December 11, 2017.

An Afghani lady cadet at practice session for small arms at Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on Monday. PTI Photo

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...g-programme/story-FW99iYdNsWgidFA4hu4xxH.html

A 20-day training programme began on December 4 at Officers Training Academy in Chennai, the sole centre training for gentlemen and lady cadets in India.
Updated: Dec 11, 2017 21:15 IST
Press Trust of India, Chennai

This is the first time Afghanistan women officers are in Chennai for military training.

A group of 20 Afghanistan women serving in combat role are in Chennai for a military training programme, the first such exercise which has enthused their peers in India who too are keen to serve on the frontline.

The 20-day training programme began on December 4 at Officers Training Academy in Chennai, the sole centre training for gentlemen and lady cadets in India.

Two Indian Army women officers, who are coordinating the training, favoured allowing women in combat role.

“Yes, I (will) definitely give a big yes...we should be given a fair opportunity in combat...all of us feel we could be in the forefront,” Major Sanjana J R told PTI.

“... if Afghan lady officers are serving their nation in combat, then why not the Indian Army, one of the largest armies in the world,” she said.

Major Sanjana, the instructor for the training programme for Afghan officers, was asked if the Indian army too should allow women officers in combat role.

She said though women army officers were presently engaged in key support roles, they were actually not in the thick of combat.

“Hopefully, we will be part of combat (in future),” said Captain Samriti, who is acting as an interpreter (of Pashto-official language of Afghanistan) and coordinator for the programme.

It has been the wish of women officers to engage in combat to serve the nation, she added.

The training will end on December 23 and the Afghan officers will leave the next day, Samriti said.

Though training sessions have been held in the past to enhance the skills of officers in other areas, this is the first time Afghanistan women officers are here for military training, she said.

Major Sanjana said the training programme is a “capsule” which encompasses major features of one year training.

The Afghanistan women officers of various ranks are being trained in several areas including weaponry, firing, communication, tactics, administration and logistics.

In addition to this, they are being trained to use hand grenades, AK-47s, INSAS (Assault rifle), among others.

On Monday, media personnel were allowed to witness the women officers getting trained in handling the AK-47, in the OTA shooting range here at St Thomas Mount.

They also handled ambush situations in mountainous terrain in class room simulation exercises. The women also underwent training in computer proficiency.

 

[Hindustani78]

Photos: Afghan women officers train with Indian Army in Chennai
Dec 14, 2017 11:58 IST

• 
  

6/7
An Afghan army cadet fires at a target during a practice session at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. A group of 20 Afghan army women serving in combat roles are in Chennai for a military training programme, the first such exercise which has enthused their peers in India, also keen to serve in combat on the front-line. (AFP)

6/7
Indian army officers instruct Afghan cadets during a target practice session. This 20-day training programme began on December 4 at Officers Training Academy in Chennai --the sole centre training both gentlemen and lady cadets in India. (AFP)

6/7
Afghan cadets march during the training programme at OTA Chennai. The women officers taking part in the exercise belong to diverse age groups with an officer as young as 21, and an anaesthetist with the medical corps in her 40s. (AFP)

6/7
Though skill enhancement trainings have been held in the past in other areas, this is the first time Afghan women officers are here for military training. The two Indian Army women officers, Major Sanjana and Captain Samriti who are co-ordinating the exercise, favoured Indian women in combat roles. “Yes, I (will) definitely give a big yes...we should be given a fair opportunity in combat...all of us feel we could be in the forefront,” Major Sanjana said. (AFP)

6/7
Lady cadets participate in a Small Arms Firing Simulator exercise. Major Sanjana said the training programme is a “capsule” which encompasses major features of one year’s worth of training. In addition to this, they are being trained to use hand grenades, AK-47s and the INSAS rifle among other weapons. (AFP)

6/7
The cadets enjoy a light moment during one of their sessions. The Afghan officers are being trained here in several areas including weaponry, firing, communication, tactics, administration and logistics. (PTI)

6/7
Army cadets also underwent training in computer proficiency. They handled ambush situations over mountainous terrain in classroom simulation exercises. The crash-course will end on December 23 following which the Afghan officers will leave for their country. (AFP)

 

[Trango Towers]

now I understand why the afghan army always performs poorly against the Taliban. indian training

 

[undercover JIX]

now I understand why the afghan army always performs poorly against the Taliban. indian training

Indian and American are training Afghan Forces, India we know and USA performance is there to see for everyone. at least last 16 year presence in Afghan and their achievements speak volumes...lol