Introduction Brief outline of the history and geography of Afghanistan, identifying the effects of climate and terrain on aerial operations. Soviet operations 1980-85, including MiG-21 and MiG-23 units operating from Bagram, Shindand and Kandahar. Further long-range units deployed to Mary-2 in the Turkoman SSR. Introduction of the Sukhoi Su-25 battlefield support aircraft summer 1981. Losses to and countermeasures against hand-held SAMs. Enlargement of tactical air forces assigned to Afghanistan operations; Mi-24 gunship operations. Further offensives in Panshir 1985-87, including attacks by heavy bombers. Confrontations across the Pakistan border - F6s vs MiG-23 March 1986, F-16 vs Su-22 May 1986, F-16 vs MiG-23 April 1987, F-16 vs Su-24 June 1988, F-16 vs MiG-23 12 September 1988.
Confrontations across Iranian border. Chapter 1 US/ NATO operations 2001-2005, including: Initial operations by land- and carrier-based aircraft. Coalition includes AAR tankers and Maritime Patrol Aircraft from UK, Netherlands Support of operations in Tora Bora and operations by strategic bombers. USAF B-52 strike Bagram, November 2001. Operation Anaconda 2002 AC-130, F-15E, A-10 and AH-64 support while CH-46 and CH-47 deliver troops. Development of the Close Air Support (CAS) role by fast-jet aircraft, marking a step change in the way that routine operations are conducted: the move from pre-planned targets to more spontaneous operations reacting to the ground threat. Operations by helicopters in support of ground forces in the face of a deteriorating security situation, including the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) teams. AAR operations.
RAF Harriers deploy September 2004; two Harriers severely damaged by Taliban attack on Kandahar October 2005. Dutch/ Danish / Norwegian F-16s to Manas, Kyrghyztan 2002-2003 (Danish aircraft drop bombs February 2003). French Mirage 200OD and F1 operations from Dushanbi, Tajikistan Chapter 2 US/ NATO operations 2006-2010, including: Nimrod crash 2006 - introduction of the Shadow to RAF and MC-12W Liberty Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft. CAS and reconnaissance operations by US and NATO air forces including USAF, USN, USMC, RAF, French, Dutch, Belgian and Norwegian air forces. Also, Italian Tornados and German Tornados 2007-2010, the first overseas operation by the Luftwaffe since World War II as well as French Aeronavale Rafales operating from the aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle . Operation Panchai Palang in Helmand province summer 2009 supported by Harriers. RAF Tornado replaces Harrier 2009. Dutch/Belgian/Norwegian F-16 to Manas 2005-2006; Dutch pilot killed August 2006.
French Rafales operate from Kandahar from 2007. French Mirage 2000D crashes in May 2011. USAF A-10, F-15E, and USN F/A-18C carry out numerous operations against Taliban forces throughout 2009. B-1B destroys narcotics factories March 2009. Chapter 3 US/ NATO operations 2011-2014, including: The continuing evolution of CAS role and support of ground troops. Pace of air operations reaches its height in this period. Operations by F-15E, F-16, F/A-18, AV-8, Tornado as well as Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV) such as Reaper and French Harfang. Taliban attack on Camp Bastion destroys eight AV-8Bs of VMA-211, killing commanding officer.
Italian Air Force AMX operate in the reconnaissance role until 2014. Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations including the deployment of RPVs and also air transport resupply operations. CAS by helicopters. Overwatch and battlefield support by fast aircraft. Change in emphasis in RPV operations, with most kinetic attacks made by RPVs rather than manned aircraft. Equipment of the Afghan air force and RAF Tornado withdrawn 2014. Chapter 4 US/ NATO operations 2015-2021, including:A surge in US F-16 kinetic events August-October 2015. USAF concentrates efforts in Helmand and Nangarhar provinces 2018.
Operation Resolute Support , passing most operational responsibility to Afghan forces, but with US F-16 and A-10 aircraft providing back up. Training/equipment organisation of Afghan Air Force. Finally, the evacuation of personnel in the NATO/ US airlift of 2021. Chapter 5 Conclusions: Lessons for air power including the quantum shift in the way CAS is conducted to support counter-insurgency (COIN), using precision guided munitions, laser designations pods and secure communications with ground forces. Common lessons drawn from Soviet and NATO experiences. Importance of ISTAR in COIN operations, as well as the nature of helicopter support and tactical transport. New emphasis on RPVs in routine air operations. Bibliography Glossary Index.