Colonel Michael T Needham

The challenge of forging a modern, technically proficient air force in a country at war is immense, but a fully operational Afghan Air Force is an essential element in the West's exit strategy. The target date for having an Afghan Air Force able to stand on its own feet, with about 8,000 trained personnel and 145 aircraft, is 2016.

The challenge of forging a modern, technically proficient air force in a country at war is immense, but a fully operational Afghan Air Force is an essential element in the West's exit strategy. The target date for having an Afghan Air Force able to stand on its own feet, with about 8,000 trained personnel and 145 aircraft, is 2016.