 |
VOOZH | about |
|
VOOZH | about |
In this article:
As reported by Uzbek the US have received seven Black Hawk helicopters that were flown to Uzbekistan by Afghan pilots during the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
According to the news outlet Amu.tv, the return of the aircraft was revealed during an event celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Armed Forces at the Uzbek Embassy in Washington.
Uzbek military kept most of the US-supplied aircraft and helicopters that Afghan pilots used to flee to Uzbekistan in August 2021. Nevertheless, the US got back seven Black Hawk helicopters that the Pentagon deemed operational.
Uzbekistan long-standing military and technical cooperation with the US was praised by Davis Florick, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the event. The role played by the country in supporting international military missions in Afghanistan, including providing logistical assistance and facilitating the evacuation of Afghan refugees was highlighted by Florick.
Tashkent is committed to expanding its cooperation with Washington, particularly in security and defense matters, explained Furkat Sidikov, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the United States and Canada, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the armed forces of both nations.
22 military planes and 24 helicopters were taken to Uzbekistan as Afghan forces sought refuge following the Taliban’s rapid advance in August 2021. More than 500 Afghan military personnel flew to Uzbekistan aboard US-supplied aircraft and helicopters during the collapse of the former Afghan government.
Afghan Air Force (AFF) received the first two UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters at Kandahar Airfield on Oct. 7, 2017.
The UH-60A was selected to enhance the AAF helicopter fleet and will augment the capabilities currently offered by the Mi-17 for a stable, reliable improvement of the force. The UH-60s were also aimed at helping the AAF and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) combat insurgent groups.
According to the article What Happened to the Afghan Air Force? by James Cunningham and Joseph Windrem, Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Air University Press, and appeared on the US Air Force (USAF) website, the decision to supply state-of-the-art UH-60s instead of a simpler model meant a steep new learning curve for Afghan pilots, at a time when the number of US trainers was minimal. By the Department of Defense (DOD)’s own estimates, the AAF would have been able to completely maintain a fleet of Mi-17 helicopters by 2019. With the introduction of the UH-60s, that best-case-scenario target date became 2030.
The Black Hawk (UH-60) is a utility tactical transport helicopter. The versatile Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of the Army due to dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability.
On the asymmetric battlefield, the Black Hawk enables the commander to get to the fight quicker and to mass effects throughout the battlespace across the full spectrum of conflict. A single Black Hawk can transport an entire 11-person, fully equipped infantry squad faster than predecessor systems and in most weather conditions. The aircraft’s critical components and systems are armored or redundant, and its airframe is designed to crush progressively on impact, thus protecting crew and passengers.
Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Clayton Cupit / U.S. Air Force
Dario Leone: All articles