FLUG REVUE February 2006: Fighters support ISAF in Afghanistan

February 2006

NATO FIGHTERS OVER AFGHANISTAN

By Karl Schwarz/Frank Visser

For four years now the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has been trying to assist the Afghan government with the task of reconstruction and to maintain security in this country, which suffers from ethnic tensions and organised crime. Ground troops from 35 countries are in the front line on this difficult and dangerous mission, even though from the beginning the in many respects inhospitable terrain and inadequate infrastructure called for the use of transport aircraft and helicopters.

Yet for a long time the International Security Assistance Force lacked any fighter aircraft of its own. Only in the run-up to the presidential election in the autumn of 2004 were six Harrier GR7A's belonging to the Royal Air Force finally deployed to Kandahar in the south of the country. Under “Operation Veritas”, they can be deployed both for ISAF and also for the war against terror (“Enduring Freedom”) led by the USA – missions which other countries like Germany have viewed as strictly separate.

Personnel from 3 (Fighter) Squadron from Cottesmore were responsible for the transfer and the first few months out in the field, but additional personnel from 1 (Fighter) and 4 (Army Cooperation) Squadrons of the Joint Force Harrier have also been sent out in connection with this mission, which has now been extended to June 2006. Conditions in Kandahar are not exactly inviting. According to Harrier pilot Jamie Mac Gillivary, “The heat is the biggest challenge, with temperatures in the summer climbing above 46ºC. On the other hand, in the winter it is cold and the base is transformed into a mud hole.” The altitude of the airfield, about 1,000m above sea-level, the strong winds and the sand also make life difficult for staff and aircraft alike.

As the runway has not yet been finished, the Harrier is the only fighter jet that can be deployed from Kandahar at the moment. “Our main task is reconnaissance. On top of that, our presence alone has a deterrent effect,” explains Wing Commander Bruce Headley. For this reason, as of the summer the GR7A's had only actually deployed their weapons (Enhanced Paveway, Maverick, missiles) on about 15 missions. Close cooperation with the ground troops, with whom they are constantly in radio contact, is critical here.

After the British, the Royal Dutch Air Force brought four F-16M's to the international airport of capital city Kabul (KIA) in March 2005. The first mission was flown as planned on 1 April. The Fighting Falcons and their personnel came from 312 Squadron in Volkel, who were subsequently relieved by servicemen from Leeuwarden.

On 15 July, a further four F-16AM's belonging to the Belgian Air Force arrived in Kabul. These pilots came from 2 Fighter Wing in Florennes. They set off on 6 July, but due to technical problems with the Dutch KDC-10 tankers, they were forced to make an involuntary stop in Akinci, Turkey. With the Belgian Fighting Falcons, the unit was transformed into a European Expeditionary Air Wing (EEAW) with around 165 men, 65 of whom were from Belgium. However, for security reasons no joint missions were flown.

The F-16s are available 24/7 for Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions and, in addition to regular “demonstration flights, they can also be requested for close air support and reconnaissance flights. If required, missions can be extended with the aid of American tanker aircraft. Normally two GBU-12's (225kg laser bombs), two Sidewinders and the AN/AAQ-14 Enhanced Lantirn targeting pods can be carried along with auxiliary tanks.

One of the most exciting missions to date took place on 31 October, when several soldiers were injured during the crash of a Dutch Chinook at an altitude of 3,600 metres in Hindukush. While the American rescue helicopters evacuated the wounded, the F-16AM's provided cover. As of mid-November, the eight Fighting Falcons had flown over 500 missions and accumulated around 730 hours' flying time.

Meanwhile the three Mirage 2000D's and three Mirage F1CR's from the Armée de l´Air clocked up 2,000 hours just in the three months from 6 August to 4 November. During this time they were stationed in Dushanbe (Tadzhikistan) in the run-up to the parliamentary elections. Two C-135FR's from Manas in Kyrgyzstan were also involved in operation “Serpentaire”. Since then, the fighter aircraft have returned to their home bases in Rheims and Nancy.

Like the British, the French deployed their aircraft both for ISAF and also for Enduring Freedom. Apparently in conjunction with French special units in the south-east of Afghanistan, half a dozen GBU-12 Paveway II bombs were released in the course of this. The F1CR's had located around 2200 targets, it was said.

In mid-January, the Belgian F-16AM's will follow the French Mirages in returning home. They are to be relieved in the coming spring by three to four Norwegian Fighting Falcons. Denmark has already sounded out the situation and could likewise send some F-16's later on, for the requirement for fighter jets is likely to increase if the ISAF extends the presence of its “provincial reconstruction teams” into further provinces.

From FLUG REVUE 2/2006

Last updated 12 January 2006

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