The Afghan Air Force now has its own fixed-wing close air support capability. The US Air Force on Jan. 15 delivered the first four of 20 A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Army Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner, Operation Resolute Support spokesman, said during a Tuesday briefing that the aircraft are expected to go into service in April. The US Air Force’s 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., is expected to train 30 Afghan A-29 pilots over the next three years, according to an Air Forces Central release. The first class of pilots and maintainers graduated in December. “This is a fighting aircraft which will destroy the centers of enemies in the country,” said Col. Bahadur, public affairs director of the Afghan Air Force, in a release. “This aircraft has the ability of transferring weapons like rockets and machine guns. This fighting aircraft will provide security and combat support.”
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.