Informe del Congreso de EEUU, "
Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan":
https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jul/01/2 ... urce=emailRespecto a la fuerza aérea afgana:
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Afghan Air ForceThe AAF is comprised of three flight wings and 18 detachments that provide aerial fires and lift support to ground and special operations forces. The AAF continues to show steady improvement in pilot skill, ground crew proficiency, and air-to-ground integration (AGI). The AAF can independently plan and provide air assets for logistics, resupply, humanitarian relief 61 efforts, return of human remains, MEDEVAC, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC),31 nontraditional ISR, air interdiction, close air attack, armed overwatch, and aerial escort missions. During this reporting period, the AAF increased synchronization, integration and operations with the Afghan Special Security Forces.
The AAF continued to improve its fighting capabilities over the reporting period, including
routine delivery of laser-guided bombs by A-29s as well as Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets by AC-208 Eliminator gunships. The ANDSF is confident in the AAF capability and there is an insatiable desire for precision munitions where in some cases conventional munitions could be employed. Advisors continue to note that Afghan crews demonstrated consistent progress in target selection and collateral damage estimation and showed impressive restraint and ability to minimize civilian casualties.
During the reporting period, as prescribed by the AAF Master Training Plan32, the Aircraft Maintenance Development Center (AMDC) generated more than 50 additional qualified aircrew (pilots and co-pilots), 40 for UH-60A+ helicopters and ten for C-208 and AC-208 fixed wing aircraft. Among these newly trained aircrew are two female pilots, one of whom is a C-208 pilot and one is an AC-208 pilot, who will be the first AAF female combat attack pilot. Training is conducted both in Afghanistan and third countries using ASFF-funded DoD contractors.
The AAF’s ability to execute routine air operations and to identify and develop its future leaders without advisory support led to a shift from persistent to periodic advising during the reporting period at all echelons. The AAF Commander attends the weekly security meeting with COMRS and the TAAC-Air Commander, considerably increasing and improving synchronization of RS and MoD activities and objectives. During this reporting period, the AAF allocated senior squadron commanders on a rotational basis to the CSAR increasing synchronization across the ANDSF. Although human capital limitations remain a long-term concern, the AAF’s increased recruitment and high retention rates enable it to fill key positions. Growing the maintainer cadre to reduce reliance on contractor logistics support (CLS) remains the AAF’s top challenge.
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Respecto al AC-208 Eliminator y el PC-12:
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The AC-208 Eliminator aircraft has provided ISR and strike capabilities in support of ANDSF ground and air operations since it was first fielded to the AAF in February 2019 following completion of training in the United States of the first crews. The AC-208 has a C-208 airframe but is equipped with a more powerful engine. The AC-208’s primary capability is to employ precision-guided munitions, in particular the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) modification to the 2.75-inch Hydra rocket. It also is equipped with the MX-15 sensor, which is the most capable in the AAF. The MX-15, along with the APKWS, allows the AC-208 to be an extremely capable armed-ISR platform. The AC-208 also can “buddy lase,” or guide a laser-guided bomb from an A-29, for partnered A-29 missions.
Since inception a year ago, ASFF-funded training efforts have produced 13 out of the 15 aircrews necessary for full operational AAF independence. These aircrews have developed new tactics, techniques and procedures for employment of illumination rockets to support night ANASOC ground operations and have provided integrated ISR and fires in support of day and night SMW helicopter assault force (HAF) operations.
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The SMW SOAG is currently in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case-building phase to acquire an improved sensor, the MX-15. The SAFFIRE III Sensor currently installed on the PC-12 is unable to observe ground targets effectively from altitudes higher than 10,000 feet above ground level. Pairing the new MX-15 sensor with the five-bladed propeller will give the SMW PC-12 a significant increase in capability to observe targets with exponentially greater image clarity while reducing enemy detection of the aircraft during ISR missions.
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Sobre el A-29 Super Tucano:
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The A-29’s accuracy has increased significantly with precision-guided munitions, and A-29 pilots continue to achieve high accuracy with unguided bombs. The first night strike by an AAF A-29 occurred on December 8, 2018, adding a significant capability to the AAF. Since this first night strike, the A-29 has routinely flown night operations in defense of ANDSF forces during periods of darkness.
The AAF A-29 crew has been focusing on single-seat sensor operations with the acquisition of new software. This will eliminate the need for dual cockpit operations allowing for a more realistic attainment of current crew ratios. Afghan instructor pilots will soon be able to train Initial Qualification Training (IQT) students in-country with the transition of IQT from Moody Air Force Base to Afghanistan. The first IQT class conducted entirely outside the United States is projected to start by September 2020. The Afghan A-29 schoolhouse is expected to be fully operational by April 2021 with a total of 25 in-country aircraft. A-29 advisors and contract instructor pilots are currently supplementing the organic instructor cadre to meet the current training needs.
There have been challenges standing up maintenance training in Afghanistan after A-29 maintenance training conducted in the United States. As a result, a new training contract was awarded in February 2020. Training was set to begin in April but has been delayed due to COVID restrictions.
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MD-530:
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The MD-530 helicopter provides close-air attack and aerial escort to the ANDSF. The MD-530 has two weapons pylons, capable of firing .50 caliber machine guns and rockets. The Kandahar Air Wing has three operational MD-530 Scout Weapons Teams (SWT). The AAF has sufficient crews to support 16 operational SWTs.
The AAF’s MD-530s continues to rely on a DoD CLS maintenance as TAAC-A continues to work with the AAF to increase the number of MD-530 maintenance students in training to improve organic maintenance capacity. The AAF will continue to require CLS and supporting training contracts to maintain combat capability in the mid-term and long-term. Although the AAF previously planned to build MD-530 night combat capability with the inclusion of NVG training in early 2019, this effort never formally progressed because the AAF instead focused on developing AC-208 night capabilities. The AAF is, however, now engaged in the requisite planning to begin NVG training for MD-530 pilots.
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Ala de misiones especiales:
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Special Mission Wing (SMW)
The Special Mission Wing (SMW) is the Afghan Special Security Force’s (ASSF) aviation unit. It conducts special operations aviation missions that require precision, skills, complex coordination, and capabilities not found in the conventional Afghan Air Force (AAF). SMW is the only night-capable rotary wing assault unit capable of conducting multi-ship HAF support for the ASSF. The SMW also provides precision airborne ISR through its PC-12 fixed wing platform.
SMW’s structure consists of four rotary wing Mi-17 assault squadrons and one fixed wing PC-12 ISR squadron capable of conducting independent missions in support of ASSF elements. Two rotary-wing assault squadrons are based in Kabul with the other two located at Kandahar Air Field (KAF) and Mazar-e Sharif (MeS). The PC-12 squadron is headquartered in Kabul with smaller detachments operating out of KAF and MeS. The PC-12 ISR squadron provides ASSF with operational reach across the country while integrating with the AAF to provide real-time intelligence to its A-29 light attack aircraft. This structure remains unchanged from the previous reporting period.
The NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan (NSOCC-A) SMW Special Operations Advisory Group (SOAG) maintains a Train, Advise, Assist (TAA) relationship focused on facilitating the proper employment of the SMW. As a result, the SOAG assists with screening the validity of ciphers (formally tasked missions), concurs with the utilization of the SMW for various missions, and augments the level of Coalition support depending on type of mission (unilateral versus bilateral).
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