Ground target destruction: Afghan Airmen gain new airpower capability

Published May 31, 2013
By Capt. Anastasia Wasem
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan -- As the 2013 fighting season continues in Afghanistan, the Afghan National Security Forces can add yet another airpower capability to their ever increasing list: air attack from an Afghan Air Force Mi-35 helicopter.

On May 15, the 377th Rotary Wing Squadron from the Kabul Air Wing fired 23mm rounds from newly mounted twin-barreled Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 guns on a Mi-35 helicopter for the first time. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the AAF and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan Combined Strategic FlightPlan.

"This weapons system provides a vital air-to-ground capability to destroy a target on the ground from the air," said Lt. Col. Brandon Deacon, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron commander and advisor to the 377 RWS.

After more than two months of coordinating weapons and ammunition availability, shooting range openings, live fire training permissions, maintenance challenges and balancing of mission priorities a two-ship Mi-35 formation launched in order to practice this new and essential capability. The crew consisted of both Afghan pilots as well as Czech instructors from NATC-A.

"Having these capabilities on the Mi-35 is very critical to the Afghan Air Force," said Col. Khair Mohammad Hashmi, 377 RWS pilot. "It allows us to protect our borders and support our soldiers during ground operations."

This live fire exercise marked the first time in history that the AAF has had all three weapons systems installed on the Mi-35 helicopters. The systems include the GSh-23, the Yak-B 12.7mm machine gun and the S-5 57mm rocket pod. During the training mission the AAF pilots fired a total of 725 rounds between the two aircraft.

With close air support as a top priority for ANSF the continued growth of these capabilities and doctrine development will prove vital. Doctrine development for the command and control of aerial fire missions and the employment of Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters in air-to-ground support missions such as aerial escort, air interdiction and close combat attack will help to mitigate any potential gaps as coalition forces begin to drawdown.

Once AAF pilots complete final certifications on all three weapons systems they will be able to employ the fixed-forward GSh-23s to destroy high-value targets from the air in support of ground combat operations.

"What the Afghan Air Force is eventually working towards is the ability to be able to have call-to-fire capability," said Deacon. "This means there will be someone on the ground talking to the aircraft identifying the area to be targeted. Then the Mi-35 can simply go destroy that target from the air."

In addition to this newly developed capability, the AAF is already conducting numerous air missions without assistance from NATO advisors, including ground corps support, resupply, casualty evacuation, human remains, VIP battlefield movement and, with the use of Mi-35 helicopters specifically, show of force missions.