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AAF PC-12 |
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General Information
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Afghan War News > AAF > PC-12
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has a number of PC-12 aircraft that is part of the Special Mission Wing (SMW). These aircraft are an important part of the AAF's capability to engage in a counterinsurgency conflict.
Pilatus Aircraft. The aircraft is manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland; its line of PC-12 aircraft are pictured here. The U-28A is a variant of the Pilatus PC-12 and is flown by the 318th and 319th Special Operations Squadrons of the USAF. The single-engine turboprop comes in many variants to include transport, resupply, and ISR and can operate out of remote locations. PC-12 Mission. The PC-12s provide the SMW with an ISR capability that can give a ground feed to Afghan commandos. This live video feed of targets allow commanders on the ground to make real-time adjustments. Up until early 2015, 2 of the 3 crew members of the PC-12s were Afghans. Sierra Nevada Contract. In October 2012 the Pentagon awarded Sierra Nevada Corporation 1. a contract to provide for eighteen Pilatus PC-12 turboprops worth $218 million; which will give the SMU a fixed wing capability. In May 2014 Sierra Nevada Corporation was awarded a $34.4 million, single-sourced contract by the U.S. Air force to provide logistics support for these aircraft. PC-12 Training. The requirement to continue flight and maintenance training for the Afghan Air Force will exist for several years. It is anticipated that there will be a number of contractors in Afghanistan to assist in the training program. 2.
U-28A. U.S. Air Force. The U-28A is a variant of
the PC-12. PC-12 by Pilatus Aircraft Pilatis PC-12 / U-28A by American Special Ops Afghanistan's Special Mission Wing - Facebook.
February 4, 2015. "The Afghanistan War is still Raging - but This Time It's Being Waged by Contractors". The Nation. News story about three contractors who were assisting the AAF in maintenance on the PC-12. October 12, 2011. "Pilatus Aircraft Introduce the PC-12 Spectre Special Mission Aircraft". Defense Update. The single-prop can do medevacs, transport, and resupply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. For more on the Sierra Nevada Corp contract for PC-12NG planes for the Afghans see "Afghan SpecOps gets PC-12NG Transport Planes", Defense Industry Daily, October 17, 2012. Access news report here. 2. For an example of an aircraft training program see "PC-12 TADSS", Solicitation Number A SFI-13-R-0001, posted on FedBizOpps.gov.
Afghan War News > AAF > PC-12
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