The fledgling Afghan air force has reached 1,000 flight hours with its C-27A transport fleet, according to a senior USAF official helping to train the Afghans. The milestone was achieved during a C-27 mission bringing Mi-17 helicopter cargo to Kandahar and taking out wounded Afghan military personnel. This historic mission on Aug. 29 coincided with certification of the first Afghan C-27 aircrew to fly in day/night all weather conditions without US air advisor support. Earlier this month, the Afghan air arm took delivery of its sixth C-27A. It plans to operate a fleet of 20 refurbished C-27 airframes, along with various helicopters and other fixed-wing platforms. The first C-27 arrived last December. USAF advisors operating with the Combined Air Power Transition Force continue to develop the Afghan C-27 pilot cadre.
“Military history shows that the best defense is almost always a maneuvering offense supported by solid logistics. This was true for mechanized land warfare, air combat, and naval operations since World War II. It will also be true as the world veers closer to military conflict in space,” writes Aidan…