Afghan Mi-35 Attack Helicopters 'Arming Up'

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan (June 27, 2009) -

Staff Report
COMBINED SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND - AFGHANISTAN, KABUL - After an absence of nearly a decade from the battlefield, the Afghan Mi-35 is again flying the skies of Afghanistan, thanks to pilots from the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) and the Czech Republic.

On May 27, Afghan Mi-35 attack helicopters fired 12.7 MM cannon rounds and 57 MM rockets near Bagram Air Base. Each partnered Afghan and Czech Republic crew fired 200 rounds of ball ammunition and 16 rockets while practicing gunnery on the East River Range Complex. The practice gunnery session was the culmination of over a year's work to rebuild the ANAAC's Mi-35 program. This newly revived program gives the Afghan National Army dedicated, armed aircraft for the first time in eight years.

The training took seven hours to accomplish and was supported by personnel and equipment from the ANAAC, the Czech Republic Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT), Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A) mentors and personnel from Task Force Thunder at Bagram Air Field. After the completion of the live-fire training, the lead pilot from the Czech OMLT, Major Juracka commented "the Afghan shooting was perfect."

The Czech Republic OMLT began ground training and limited flight training for Afghan Mi-35 crewmembers in the summer of 2008. In January 2009, Afghan Mi-35 training increased exponentially with the arrival of six refurbished helicopters. Since then, the Czech OMLT completed assessments on nine pilots and added a more aggressive training program.

To date, the Afghan pilots have received training on pre-mission planning, contact maneuvers, emergency procedures, navigation, and Presidential Air Squadron escort operations. After the completion of their gunnery tables, the Afghan pilots will receive training on pre-planned and close air support combat missions.

Future Mi-35 initiatives will put even more emphasis on independent Afghan training operations. The ANAAC is building its own arming points and is working on an initiative to complete all its Mi-35 live-fire training at Afghan facilities, while the Kabul Military Training Center is developing standardized Mi-35 live-fire training procedures. The Air Corps is also researching live-fire training locations throughout Afghanistan to better integrate the Mi-35 with ANA Corps. All of these efforts are aimed at decreasing the time for an Mi-35 training flight from seven to three hours, effectively doubling the amount of live-fire sorties that can be accomplished in a day.

The Mi-35's combat radius permits it to conduct combat operations anywhere in the country. The aircraft's unique design allows it to be used in attack, air assault or MEDEVAC roles. It can be configured with a 12.7 MM Gatling type machine gun, 57 MM rocket pods, and the AT-6 Spiral Anti-tank guided missile. It will typically fly with 1,470 rounds of ball ammunition, 128 rockets and 2 anti-tank missiles. According to Major General Dawran, the Air Corps commander, "The new capability is good for the Afghan National Army and for the country of Afghanistan."