Afghan Air Force Drop First Targeted Missile In Landmark Operation

The Afghan Air Force has dropped their first laser-guided missile on a Taliban compound in Farah.

The Afghan attack pilots were equipped with both guided and unguided bombs and elected to employ the GBU-58 laser-guided bomb to avoid collateral damage.

The drop resulted in a direct hit, making the first-time operation a successful one.

The Afghan Air Force is currently in the process of rebuilding itself following the civil war of 1989.

NATO Forces have been heavily involved in providing training to the Afghan Air Force and at Kabul International Airport, there is now an Afghan Air Force Headquarters and Air Wing, and a command centre.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Lance Bunch, director of future operations, Resolute Support, said in a December 2017 press conference:

“Key pieces that you're seeing is that the Afghan Air Force itself, one of the more lethal organizations they have, and one that we're looking to triple in size by 2023, is conducting significantly more air operations."

Whilst Brig Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, Train Advise, Assist Command-Air commander said:

“The Afghan pilots do their jobs very well and they can do it in any part of the country.”

The Afghan Air Force 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.

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.