Quân Báo Quân Lực Việt Nam Cộng Hòa : July 2010

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Afghan Air Force Planes in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

As many as 46 aircraft of the Afghan Army Air Force were flown to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Afghan Air Force was comprised of: 23 A-29 Super Tocano light attack aircraft 10 AC-208 Combat Caravan 23 C-208 Caravan utility aircraft. 4 C-130 Hercules transports 56 Mi-17 transport helicopters 50 MD 530s light attack helicopters 45 UH-60 Blackhawks The exact number and type of aircraft flown to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are not known at this time. In any event, their usefulness to either side is negligible. All of these aircraft were being maintained by contractors who have now left the country. The Taliban might replace them with contractors from Turkey or Pakistan, but they would also need pilots to fly the aircraft. There is very little chance that the pilots who defected to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan would return and join the Taliban. If the sales contracts that provided these planes to Afghanistan were leases or full payment for them was not received, they may be impounded pending legal proceedings for their recovery by the seller.

Thursday, July 22, 2010