The Air Force that never was

Due to recent developments in the country, many Afghan Air Force (AAF) aircraft have fled for neighbouring Uzbekistan. According to Uzbek media, 22 fixed wing planes and 24 helicopters from the Afghan Air Force had fled to Termez Airport in Uzbekistan.

One Super Tucano crashed after a collision with an Uzbek MiG-29 which accompanied it.

In the past week, more than three dozen AAF aircraft had flown to Uzbekistan, to prevent them from falling in the hands of the Taliban after the group regained control over the country again.

The arrival of the AAF aircraft and helicopters at Termez Airport in southern Uzbekistan was first reported by local media on 15 and 16 August. Later this was verified with commercial satellite imagery confirming the relocation of a significant part of the AAF. Satellite imagery from Planet Labs appeared to indicate that helicopters and small, fixed-wing aircraft were at Termez on 16 August.

Noted on the imagery were some Cessna 208s, Pilatus PC-12s and Sierra Nevada/ Embraer A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft, along with up to sixteen Mi-8/Mi-17s, five Mi-24/35s, and five UH-60 Black Hawks.

With a steady build-up in recent years and a name change from Afghan National Army Air Corps to Afghan Air Force in 2010, and with international support, a reasonable air fleet was still available up to a few weeks ago.

What will happen to the aircraft and helicopters is not known at this moment. In the Panjshir Valley there is now a great resistance towards the Taliban and to the things that are now going on in Afghanistan. The resistance consists of former Afghan military and local militant groups.

It is possible that the fled aircraft and helicopters will be returned to them in due time.

Credit photos: Planet Satellite Images and USAF
Credit ADS-B overview: Via Aldin on Twitter