Will the $ 55B Invested in Afghan Forces Pay Off?

The U.S. HAS Spent $ 55 one billion to recruit, train and equip Afghan security forces. And as the U.S. and NATO transition from leading the fight against the Taliban to pushing the Afghans into the lead, the world will see what the U.S. got for its money.

One of the MOST Closely Watched Initiatives Undertaken by the 195.000-strong Afghan National Army (ANA) is icts nascent quick-reaction capability, Which HAS Already tens of cost millions of dollars to field more than 300 640 vehicles of a Planned. The strength will grow to a strength of seven kandaks - each about the size of a battalion - two of Which will be special operations forces.

The Plan is for the kandaks to be able of driving to the fight in the ANA's fastest, most is advanced and well-protected vehicle: the mine-resistant mobile strike force vehicle, a derivative of Textron Marine and Land Systems' M1117 armored security vehicle, used by U.S., Canadian and other forces, around the world.

The power elite will be ble to crises sponds to Quickly and with mass and firepower, giving a new set of Kabul options When faced with a variety of fast-moving and unpredictable terrorism threats.

Increase the area to cover They Can, five kandaks are slated to Remain in the Kabul area, while two more will go to Kandahar in the south oz Their training is complete, officials Involved with the program said. Two units Have already gone through training, one is stationed in Darulaman outside Kabul, and the other is Deployed to Kandahar.

Afghan air force advances media battlefield tactics

The commanders of the Afghan Air Force and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan signed two Decrees operational in January 23 Implementing Procedures to Improve response to air Afghan battlefield casualties by the AAF's new C-208 Cessna Caravan and Its fleet helicopters Mi-17.

The Decrees address the high-priority casualty evacuations and the dignified, Culturally-appropriate transfer of fallen members of Afghan National Security Forces. The signings Took place in the NATC-A headquarters at the Kabul International Airport.

"These are critical air support mission to campaign success, augmenting ground CASEVAC When needed resources," Emphasized Brig. Gen. Steven Shepro, the NATC-A command. "To Improve the efficacité thesis of missions, the AAF and NATC-A team Have the accelerated delivery, setup and initial operating capability of the C-208 fleet in a matter of months."

The decree initiatives directly instruct aircrew and streamlined command, control and communication security across organisms. The AAF's primary unit for managing mission is flying the Afghan Air Force Command and Control Center. Selon the NATC-A Director of Operations, Colonel. Reginald Smith, the AAF HAS Transferred 146 patients for continued medical care in the last three months of 2012. The primary AAF aircraft movements used for casualty Have Been Mi-17s, C-27A Spartans and Cessna 208B.

Raytheon-led team graduates first Afghan Air Force pilots on Warfighter FOCUS program contract

Dulles, VA - The first 10 Afghan Air Force (AAF) students graduated as commercial-level rotary-wing pilots on a contract led by Raytheon to provide training for up to 80 Afghan airmen on fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

The graduation ceremony, held Sept. 26 in the Middle East, marked the students' completion of a two-year program that included English language immersion training, ground school and flight training. Nearly 70 additional Afghan airmen are in various stages of the three-part training and will graduate on a staggered schedule over the next year.

Raytheon was awarded the three-year, $42.8 million training contract to support NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan in October 2010 under the U.S. Army's Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support (FOCUS) contract.

Four Tigers Delivered For Deployment to Afghanistan

A significant milestone in Eurocopter’s Tiger support helicopter program has been reached following the delivery of the first four helicopters to be upgraded for deployment to Afghanistan. This now leaves the German Army in possession of a complete batch of ASGARD helicopters – a vital prerequisite if the Tiger is to be deployed in theater by the end of the year.

The Afghanistan Stabilization German Army Rapid Deployment (ASGARD) program of modifications for the Tiger Support Helicopter was agreed by Eurocopter and the Federal Ministry of Defence at the end of 2011 and includes a sand filter, additional defense weaponry, a mission data recorder and enhanced communications equipment for multinational missions.

“The Tiger presents the Bundeswehr with an unquestionably modern machine for its operations, with the ASGARD configuration ideally tailored to Afghanistan. However, it is equally true to say that in the long term this helicopter will do its duty in a whole range of possible combat scenarios,” explains Eurocopter President & CEO Dr. Lutz Bertling.

Afghan pilot program achieves milestone with first graduates

SHINDAND, Afghanistan (Sept. 7, 2012) -- For the first time in more than 30 years, Afghan pilots completed pilot training held in their home country. The Rotary Wing Flight Training Program was developed and conducted by Soldiers from the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization for the Afghan Air Corps in order to create an independent Afghan Air Force program.

Six MD 530Fs, two Flight Training Devices and additional equipment and critical spare parts were delivered in December to the Shindand Air Base as part of a foreign military sales case facilitated by the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command and managed by PEO Aviation's Non-Standard Rotary Wing Aircraft Project Office, both located at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Four Afghan Air Force lieutenants participated in the four-month program. The course consisted of three phases of instruction on the MD 530F aircraft, according to Lt. Col. Jeffery Bouma, USASATMO's team chief for the course. The first phase taught the fundamentals of flying a helicopter, such as normal traffic patterns, hovering and emergency procedures. The second phase included basic instrument flight. The final phase covered tactical maneuvers such as dust and brownout landings and formation.

Afghan air defence depends on US

 Kabul—Lack of modern and equipped air defense, radars, and other military equipment will keep Afghanistan dependent on the US air force for some time, Afghan military expert General Noorulhq Olomi told an Afghan TV channel.

He said that Afghanistan needs a Nato-standard military air force in order to protect the country after 2014, otherwise the presence of the foreign troops would be necessary.

“Afghanistan will be remain dependent on the US air force as long as its own air defenses are not equipped with modern warplanes, radars and other military equipments,” Olomi said that after the report of a new contract between the US and Russian government for helicopters for Afghanistan.

The US government will purchase ten Mi-17 Russian helicopters worth $171.4 million for the Afghan air force which can be used in both for military offensives as a gunship or for the logistic purposes.

What Defeated The Afghan Air Force

This has not been a good year for Afghan military aviation. The Afghan Air Force has 102 aircraft and helicopters. So far this year, most have been grounded because of maintenance issues. Afghan officers complain that is largely due to the fact that America and other NATO nations gave the Afghans too many used aircraft and not enough new stuff. Foreigners observe that corruption, low education levels and stiff competition for skilled Afghans has meant that the Afghans are unable to adequately maintain and repair the aircraft they have.

Key personnel are hired away by civilian aviation firms that can pay more. There are not a lot of Afghans capable of becoming aircraft maintenance technicians to begin with. Afghanistan has the lowest education levels in Eurasia, and the lowest literacy rate. Foreign donors insist that the air force recruit and train local maintenance personnel. That can be done, with difficulty. But the good ones soon get hired away from civilian firms or immigrate.

Army hunts for new sniper rifles for infantry battalions (India)

New Delhi - The army is on the hunt for new sniper rifles for its infantry battalions as part of its plan to replenish old stocks and upgrade the existing guns. The army's search has generated keen interest in the global arms market as major gun manufacturers from Switzerland, Israel and Russia are looking to supply the rifles.
 
Currently, our infantry battalions use Russian Dragunov sniper rifles. The army is yet to specify the number of guns it is going to buy, but officials said it would need more than 2,000 rifles for its large number of infantry battalions. According to officials, sniper rifles have an offensive as well as defensive role. In defence roles, soldiers are deployed on key locations to strike.
 
The guns are useful in anti-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and in urban warfare too.
 
The army has been searching for new guns for quite some time now.
 
The officials said a number of companies had responded to the information sought by the army, such as specifications of the weapons, including the calibre, type of vision device and other qualities. The Russian Dragunov sniper rifles, a 7.62 mm weapon, were first introduced in the 1960s and have performed well.
 
They are still being used on a large scale in India and are being produced locally, under licence. Apart from Dragunov, the special forces use the Galil sniper rifle.
 
Considering that the Indian Army's modernisation plan is lagging behind, there is a sense of urgency in getting the new weapons.
 
The defence ministry has put its weight behind the move to fasttrack purchases. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the top body for weapon purchases, in its Friday meeting is expected to take up key projects for the three forces. In its recent meetings, the DAC has been trying to ensure that pending projects should be given a push. The sense of urgency in upgrading equipment came after ex-army chief Gen. V.K Singh pointed out critical deficiencies in the army's battle-preparedness.

US to Donate 146 Warplanes to Afghan Army: MOD

The United States government has decided to give 146 planes to Afghanistan's National Army air force by 2016, a spokesman for Afghan Ministry of Defence (MOD) said Wednesday.
The ministry praised the decision adding that more warplanes should be given to Afghanistan in order to protect the country from any kind of threat.
"There is an agreement that US would give us 146 warplanes but we are not satisfied with this, the number should increase. The planes would be used in any kind of situation." General Mohammad Zaher Azimi, MOD spokesman said.
Strengthening the abilities of Afghanistan's Air Force could play a vital role in combating insurgency through the country and protecting the nation from any outside threat.
According to Mr Azimi, a clearing offensive named ‘Omid' will be launched by Afghan National Army aimed to clear insurgents throughout the country. The operation will focus on southern and eastern provinces which have witnessed insurgency throughout the year.
He also added that more than 85 percent of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are being brought to Afghanistan from the neighbouring countries.

US restarts competition for aircraft for Afghan air force

After conducting an internal investigation, bringing in senior staff and briefing Congress, the U.S. Air Force expects this month to restart a contentious competition to purchase single-engine turboprop attack aircraft for Afghanistan that pits the Brazilian company Embraer and its A-29 Super Tucano against Wichita, Kan.-based Hawker Beechcraft and its AT-6.
Embraer, however, is concerned about getting a fair shake in the new competition, the outcome of which will affect not only the two companies, but also possibly the future of growing Brazil-U.S. military cooperation as well as the prospects for U.S. defense companies seeking to do business in Brazil.
In March the Air Force abruptly canceled a $355 million contract it had just awarded Embraer to build 20 light air support aircraft for the Afghan air force after losing bidder Hawker Beechcraft sued the Pentagon. A subsequent internal Air Force investigation reportedly found internal administrative problems in the procurement process. The contract was rebid, with the final proposal due next Monday.
The U.S. Air Force expects to announce the new winner early next year, but the aircraft haven't been requested for delivery until 18 months after that - as U.S. troops are supposed to be winding down their deployment in Afghanistan.
Unlike the original competition, the new one lacks a flight evaluation, in which the two planes would be flown under similar conditions. It also won't accept data from the prior competition, a concern to Embraer. Hawker Beechcraft's older planes, such as its T-6, are better known to U.S. military.
"They think that they are at a significant disadvantage because of a lack of a fly-off and use of prior data," a senior staffer for a Florida member of Congress said, describing meetings with Embraer. The staffer, like several people interviewed for this story, spoke only on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Officials on both sides acknowledge that the handling of the contract has hurt a bilateral defense relationship that "has advanced pretty dramatically," said the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Thomas Shannon.
Brazil has long harbored resentment over what it sees as slights in the way it is treated in military matters. Past Brazilian officials thought the country never got the recognition it deserved for sending troops to fight alongside the Allies in World War II. Brazil also is still smarting over its abandonment of its nuclear weapons program under U.S. pressure, only to see India develop nuclear weapons and continue to resist signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty while still receiving favorable treatment from Washington.

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In recent years, U.S. officials have tried to improve defense relations with Brazil, the largest country in South America and the world's sixth largest economy. A 2010 agreement that originated in the George W. Bush administration called for increased sharing of military systems and equipment.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, visited the country in March and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visited in April, launching the U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperation Dialogue with Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim.
Marco Aurelio Garcia, a foreign policy adviser to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, said: "We have a very good relation with the U.S. and we want to continue to develop it. But a decision like this creates problems not only in military relations but in economic and commercial relations."
Embraer officials declined to comment. The company's U.S. headquarters are in Florida, where the planes for Afghanistan would be assembled.
Embraer still questions why it was stripped of the contract in the first place, according to another person who has direct knowledge of the company's deliberations on the contract. If the problems were mainly administrative, rebidding the contract "is disproportionate" as a resolution, the person said, adding that suspicions in Brazil are high that the new competition "is tilted in favor of Hawker Beechcraft."
Hawker Beechcraft hasn't objected to the absence of a fly-off, but it has other concerns about the bidding process. For one, it thinks the Pentagon has lowered the standards for the aircraft's ejection-seat system, said Derek Hess, the company's vice president for light attack programs. That shaves an edge, he said, because Hawker Beechcraft seats accommodate a wider variety of pilots, something the Air Force told congressional staffers in April was unnecessary because only Afghans would pilot the planes.
On Tuesday, Embraer's partner in the competition, Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corp., said it had sued the Air Force to have the original contract reinstated. Observers described it as a significant move as the U.S. government is a major Sierra Nevada customer, but the corporation said it planned to continue the competition.
Taco Gilbert, a vice president at Sierra Nevada Corp., said in a recent interview that, "We remain concerned that there is no fly-off. All we have ever asked for is integrity in the process and a fair and open competition."
Buying planes for the U.S. military and the nascent Afghan air force has been subject to political interference from the beginning. Embraer initially had the support of Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal when he was the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, according to a second congressional staffer. But the program was killed in Congress under pressure from Kansas legislators.
Brazilian politicians also are concerned about the handling of the contract. In an interview at the presidential palace in Brasilia, Garcia said he thought that the initial award of the contract to Embraer "was made strictly under technical criteria" but subsequent developments were the result of "political interference" and "protectionist and political intervention."
Peter Hakim, the president emeritus of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington research center, was also critical. "Not only was it insulting to cancel the contract at the last minute, but the explanation was so thin," he said. "It made it look like the U.S. can act arbitrarily."
Shannon, the U.S. ambassador, said that for Brazil, the cancellation of the contract "provoked latent concerns about the confidence we have in them and the confidence they have in us as a long-term partner. So we have been trying to reassure them that we are looking for a defense partnership that can be enduring."
The U.S., which for decades had assumed the sole responsibility for the Western Hemisphere's defense, now wants Brazil to assume a greater share of the burden. Brazil, where a military dictatorship reigned until the 1980s, is modernizing its once-discredited military, a process that began during the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
That modernization has potential benefits for American companies. Brazil bought UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. of Stratford, Conn. Esterline Corp. of Bellevue, Wash., has a contract to provide equipment to Embraer's KC-390 military tankers.
While in Rio de Janeiro, Panetta said the U.S. had approved nearly 4,000 licenses a year to export technology to Brazil, "ranging from weapons and aircraft to integrated combat systems for navy ships and submarines."
"This is on a par with the U.S. government's license approval rate for treaty allies, for our closest partners," he said.
A U.S. concern is whether the outcome of the bidding for the Afghan planes will affect a $4.4 billion contract to sell Brazil 36 fighter jets. Boeing is competing with France's Dassault Aviation and Sweden's Saab for the deal. It's unclear whether that contract could be affected if Brazil continues to harbor doubts about the Pentagon's process for deciding on the Super Tucano A-29 _ the pride of the Brazilian air force _ for Afghanistan.
"They are humans with sentiments and they have long memories," a Brazilian official said, referring to the Brazilian military. "I recently met a military official complaining about some slight from 15 years ago."