C-27As for the Afghan Air Force
Mar 07, 2011 13:00 EST
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Delivery up to plane #14. (Sept 20/11)
The ultimate goal for Afghanistan’s air force is the ability to support the Afghan National Army against al-Qaeda/ Taliban elements that launch raids within the country, or from across the border with Pakistan. Given Afghanistan’s rugged terrain and sparse infrastructure, however, a decision has been made to make tactical transportation of troops and supplies the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps’ top priority.
That explains US NAVAIR’s efforts to buy more Ukrainian AN-32s, which offered familiar technology, even though the spares situation is less than ideal. On top of that, a 3-way deal has been made involving Italy, which will send some of its Alenia G.222 (C-27A) light transports to Afghanistan, under a refurbishment program conducted by Alenia North America…
- The ANAAF’s C-27A Program
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
The ANAAF’s C-27A Program
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In 2008, the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (which became the Afghan National Army Air Force in June 2010) was still just getting to its feet, with a handful of AN-32/AN-26 light transport aircraft, Mi-17 assault transport and Mi-35 attack helicopters combined, and just 3 L-39 trainer/ light attack aircraft in questionable condition. Many of its pilots were older men, and the air force had not graduated a new pilot since 1992. In response, an 8-year plan was drawn up to begin training a new crop of pilots, and expand the air force.
As of September 2010, the Afghan Air Force stood at about 4,000 personnel, with the goal of expanding to 8,000. Machines include 27 Mi-17s and 8 Mi-35 helicopters, and 4 AN-32 transports. The AN-32s will be phased out of service by year-end 2010, however, due to airframe serviceability and lifespan issues.
With the AN-32s headed out the door, the Afghan C-27A program becomes the critical link in the AAF’s transport plans. The program currently includes 20 aircraft in a standardized operational configuration, as well as modules to convert 2 aircraft to a VIP Transport configuration if required. Only 2 of the 20 C-27As are VIP compatible, however, because the VIP modules have a different Cargo Handling System.
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The USAF has operated C-27As in the past, but Afghan aircraft are all former Italian Air Force machines built to different production standards from 1977 – 1985, and which Alenia Aeronautica had bought back when the Italian government bought C-27Js. Because of the different configurations, the contract stipulates that all aircraft must be brought to common avionics and systems configuration, including a new autopilot and ballistic protection.
The G.222/C-27A was not known as an easy aircraft to maintain, but it does feature outstanding short runway performance, and offers proven performance in hot weather and high altitudes. The spares and maintenance issue is being addressed through the program via extensive training through the US military, an initial spare parts inventory, ground support equipment, technical publications in English and Dari, and 3 years worth of contractor logistics support.
Contracts and Key Events
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Sept 20/11: Alenia North America announces that it has delivered aircraft 12-14 to the Afghanistan Air Force (AAF). All 3 are expected to be in country by month end, joining a fleet that has now flown over 4,700 hours. Both of the VIP-compatible planes are already in country. Alenia North America [PDF]
March 4/11: Alenia North America in Washington, DC receives a not-to-exceed $20 million firm-fixed-price contract for repair and return of Afghanistan G222/C-27 program parts. Work will be performed in Madison, MS and Rome, Italy. WR-ALC/GRBKB at Robins Air Force Base, GA manages the contract (FA8553-11-C-0004).
Feb 20/11: The Afghan Air Force receives its 10th C-27A Spartan transport aircraft at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul. This plane had been used for pilot training, and to date, 48 U.S. Air Force Advisors have been trained using the C-27/G-222 aircraft.
As of this release, Alenia says that the AAF C-27A fleet has flown over 2,000 hours in aid, MDEVAC, and military support flights. Alenia Aeronautica [PDF] | NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan.
Sept 27/10: Alenia North America announces [PDF] a $30 million USAF contract to add 2 more C-27As to the Afghan contract. The new contract includes 2 refurbished C-27A aircraft with ballistic protection for the cockpit and a liquid oxygen compartment, technical support, and travel in support of the Afghan Air Force. They will be delivered by the end of 2011.
The C-27/G.222 AAF program now includes 18 aircraft in a standardized operational configuration, plus 2 more that can also be configured to carry VIP modules for Presidential and VIP airlift. Alenia North America is also on contract to provide USAF Air Advisor training at their facility in Capodichino, Naples, Italy.
Sept 6/10: Alenia North America announces [PDF] that the Afghan C-27A fleet has reached the milestone of 1,000 combined operational flight hours. As of their release, 7 C-27As have been delivered, including 2 more at the beginning of September 2010. One of the September 2010 deliveries will remain at Alenia’s Capodichino facility near Naples, Italy for USAF Air Advisor Training. The other new plane is for Presidential and VIP airlift.
Asked about these deployment arrangements, Alenia North America responded that The 4th aircraft (vid. Feb 22/10 entry) deployed after it completed the 2nd US Air Advisor Training Class. Since the start of 3rd US Air Advisor Training Class coincided with the delivery of the 7th aircraft, it was used to fill that slot until the end of its training class, whereupon it too will deploy to Afghanistan.
July 8/10: Continued delays in Afghan pilot training – but good on Col. Craig Rice for switching to English and professional proficiency training while they wait. Because English is effectively the international language of aviation, English proficiency is a critical qualifying skill:
“What better way to expose them to the Western ways than putting some of our advisors with them ‘shohna ba shohna’ (shoulder to shoulder) where they live, eat, sleep, talk English and aviation,” Colonel Rice said. “The best part is that they get to see, first hand, the professionalism and dedication of our officers, and how we operate, how our system is based on merit verses who you are related to or what tribe you are from … it is your performance that counts.”
To help alleviate the boredom of waiting, these 2009 and 2010 graduates of the National Military Academy of Afghanistan and Officer Candidate School graduates were selected to live in the lab based on their English comprehension test scores. The top 20 were chosen. They moved into the unnamed lab May 15 and chose the name Thunder Lab because in Dari, Pashto, and English thunder is the same word.
The daily schedule at Thunder Lab is demanding. The day begins at 5:15 a.m. with physical fitness. After breakfast, students receive three hours of English training or Air Force training. After lunch, they attend aviation English instruction, followed by military and professional training with an American mentor for two hours, and they even have a barracks cleaning rotation. Prayer time and dinner are followed by simulator and study time and an evening movie.”
July 1/10: Afghan C-27As perform their first paradrop in Afghanistan, with the participation of USAF advisors on board. USAF.
June 14/10: USAF:
“According to order of the President of Afghanistan and the written guidance of the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the Afghan General Staff, the Afghans are changing the name of the Afghan National Army Air Corps to the Afghan National Army Air Force.”
Feb 22/10: Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia North America delivers the 4th ANAAC C-27A to the United States Air Force at Alenia’s Capodichino facility near Naples, Italy. The first 3 C-27As have already been deployed to Afghanistan, and are flying with the Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF) in Kabul. This 4th aircraft will remain in Capodichino, and is currently being used for training.
The training courses for pilots, loadmasters, crew chiefs, and maintenance personnel last between 15 and 40 days, depending on their duties, and includes classroom academics, practical training, and flight training. Alenia Aeronautica release.
Sept 29/09: Alenia North America, Incorporated of Washington, DC receives a $7.1 million contract pertaining to the acquisition of 18 refurbished G.222/C-27A aircraft to support the Afghan National Army Air Corps. At this time, the entire amount has been committed by the 330th ACSG/GFKA at Robins Air Force Base, GA (FA8504-08-C-0007, P00002).
Sept 25/09: Alenia Aeronautica delivers the first of 18 C-27A aircraft at Capodichino, Italy.
July 30/09: The first G.222 aircraft returns to flight, one month after its roll-out and 9 months since the start of its overhaul and upgrade. The G.222 makes a 2 hour flight from Capodichino, after which it will continue a test program before delivery to the USAF. Deliveries are planned to continue at a rate of approximately 1 aircraft per month until 2011. Source.
Sept 5/09: The USAF reports that test pilots, engineers and ground crews from Alenia North America have performed an initial test flight of the first C-27A destined for Afghanistan. Initial deliveries remain on schedule for late September 2009, and C-27As are expected to be added to the Afghan National Army Air Corps’ fleet of 7 AN-26/32 aircraft in November 2009.
The transition to the C-27A is already underway. Over the past three months, 30 Afghan Antonov AN-26/32 pilots traveled to San Antonio to attend English Language Training and Specialized English Training at the Defense Language Institute. After completing of up to 8 months of language training, the Afghan pilots attend an 8-week instrument flight rules course in San Antonio, to obtain an International Civil Aviation Organization IFR certification. Then, 10 U.S. pilots will teach the new students C-27A transition training.
July 23/09: Officials from the Kabul Air Corps Training Center’s Air University certify 8 Afghans after a 3-month basic loadmaster course July 23. Training included weight and balance theory, loading operations, passenger handling and forklift certification. This was the first loadmaster class conducted for the Afghan Air Corps in more than 30 years, and 8 U.S. mentors provided specific loadmaster training to the recent graduates. Air University BLM course instructor Faizadeen Abadi is quoted as saying that:
“The C-27(A) will be good for Afghanistan because it’s much easier to load. The roller system increased capability for loading equipment access to the aircraft, and the capacity to transport larger tactical vehicles are outstanding attributes of the aircraft.”
Sept 29/08: Alenia North America, Inc. of Washington, DC receives a not-to-exceed $287 million firm-fixed-price contract. The program currently includes 18 aircraft in a standardized operational configuration, as well as the modules to convert 2 aircraft to a VIP Transport configuration if required.
The Italian Air Force will provide the aircraft from its own inventory, and they will be refurbished and delivered to Afghanistan through the USAF’s Combined Air Power Transition Force based in Kabul. The C-27As will be delivered commencing in 2009, with deliveries continuing through 2011. Finmeccanica release [PDF] | Defense News | See also USAF’s Jan 2008 article: “General shares successes, challenges of Afghan air corps”.
Additional Readings
- The Aviation Zone – Alenia C-27 (G222) Spartan
- DID – Afghan AN-32s Arrive
- US DoD (Sept 30/10) – DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Afghan Air Force Capabilities. With USAF Brig. Gen. David Allvin, commanding general, NATO Air Training Command, NTM-A/CSTC-A.
