An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Kandahar Mi-17 Helicopter Fires Over 100 Rockets in Training

  • Published
  • By Capt. Rob Leese
  • 438th AEW PAO
KANDAHAR, Afghaninstan --  During the last week, members from the Kabul CAPTF team taught the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group personnel at the Kandahar Air Wing how to plan, handle and execute Mi-17 live fire by shooting over 100 air-to-ground rockets during training.

The ground and flight training gave the CAPTF advisors in Kandahar the basic air-to-ground missile skills and tactics which will be passed on to the Afghan Air Force KAW for future security and stability operations.

The CAPTF maintenance advisors were then able to train the AAF KAW's armament personnel. Before the first day of flight training was over, KAW's armament flight demonstrated proficiency ground handling & weapons loading. They successfully loaded while under engine running conditions during the last three sorties with minimal advisor help.

KAW's maintainers demonstrated the ability to safely handle and load the rockets onto the Mi-17s during engine running operations. As KAW's aviators skills and professionalism increase, they too will be taught use the rockets under the "for, with, by" concept of AAF development. At this point, just the CAPTF advisors are trained to fire the rockets; however the KAW pilots are motivated to catch up.

Col. Bernard Mater, 738th AEAG Commander explained, "Overall, this increases the KAW's ability to provide for their own security for Mi-17s' missions to medium risk landing zones when NATO escorts are not available. This is marked progress in developing the AAF ability to self-generate combat capability and provides a bridge between Mi-35 retirements and future AAF close air support aircraft acquisitions."

It is worth noting the significant coordination and assistance provided by Regional Command-South, commander of Kandahar Air Field and the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing to safely execute this training on Aug. 27 and 28. There was 100 percent successful weapons employment and complied with all weapons employment Rules of Engagement and training rules.