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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Afghanistan
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Afghan Air Force receives first batch of UH-60 Black Hawks
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The first UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters for the Afghan Air Force (AAF) arrived in Kandahar airport on Monday, Sept. 18, the NATO's Resolute Support Twitter account confirmed yesterday. “The first Afghan Air Force UH-60s arrived today in Kandahar,” announced Resolute Support.
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 U.S. Air Force Col. Armando Fiterre, the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group commander, Train, Advise, Assist, Command-Air, watches as the first Afghan Air Force UH-60 helicopter is unloaded off a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster, Sept. 18, 2017, at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan(Credit: U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Veronica Pierce) |
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"The AAF is transitioning from the Mi-17 to the UH-60 as part of recapitalization efforts to modernize the helicopter fleet," Resolute Support said on Facebook.
These are the first UH-60s to be delivered to Afghanistan for the recapitalization of the AAF and development of a professional, capable and sustainable Afghan Air Force. The plan involves seven different weapon systems, 14 program offices and more than 20 major contracts. TAAC-Air will oversee training of AAF pilots and maintainers, Resolute Support added. Afghan defense ministry officials had recenlty said the helicopters promised by the US would help them overcome the challenges that existed in the anti-terror fight. “We need Black Hawks to overcome a number of challenges including transferring supplies, eradicating enemy strongholds, evacuating patients and wounded and also transferring supplies to check-posts that are located in mountains,” defense ministry spokesman, Dawlat Waziri said last week. The US recapitalization plan involves the delivery of 53 Black Hawks to replace an aged fleet of about 80 Russian-built Mil Mi-17 helicopters. |
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 An Afghan Air Force UH-60 is towed as two AAF A-29s taxi for take-off Sept. 18, 2017, at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan(Credit: U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Veronica Pierce) |
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