Afghan Air Force marked first attack with a laser guided bomb in combat on March 22, against a Taliban compound in Farah. The AAF A-29...
Afghan Air Force marked first attack with a laser guided bomb in combat on March 22, against a Taliban compound in Farah.
The AAF A-29 turboprop light attack aircraft delivered a GBU-58 LGB, resulting in a direct hit on the target, along the route of a major Afghan National Army clearing operation.
The success comes just three months after the AAF completed training to employ a laser-guided bomb. AAF weapons personnel and crew chiefs loaded, armed, and launched the aircraft with minimal advisor input.
The AAF pilots who conducted the operation were from Kabul Air Wing's Kandahar A-29 detachment. The AAF also assisted the ANA in destroying equipment the Taliban had stolen.
The AAF gained the capability to conduct airstrikes just over two years ago; first with the MD-530 attack helicopter in August 2015, followed by the A-29 Super Tucano in April 2016. Today, the AAF flies around 100 sorties each day, and around 10 percent are strikes.
Afghan Air Force drops first laser-guided bomb on Taliban compound in Farah #AfghanAirForce #AFGStrong #ANDSF pic.twitter.com/E5vEjGK3WF— Resolute Support (@ResoluteSupport) March 27, 2018
The rapid growth and training of the AAF is expected to continue over the next six years. Currently, it is around 8,000 members strong, with 129 aircraft total. That will grow to a force of 11,000; the fleet is expected to triple in size as part of President Ghani's Roadmap.
