via Early Warning Blog of the Lexington Institute
A few years back when counterinsurgency was all the rage and building the security capacity of partner countries was considered an important U.S. strategic goal, the Air Force came up with a plan to acquire a fleet of light attack and transport aircraft. This notional force would consist of low cost, propeller-driven, simple to operate and maintain platforms suitable to operations in less developed countries with limited
infrastructure. While the Air Force never planned to buy more than a limited number of such aircraft, it hoped to encourage partner countries to acquire them as the core of their national air forces. With support from the U.S. Air Force and a low price due to volume purchases, it was hoped this plan would lead to the creation of a virtual global counterinsurgency air force.
The "test case" for this strategy was to be the Afghan Air Force. In order to provide an initial capability, the Air Force contracted with the Italian company Alenia to provide 20 refurbished G222 cargo planes, a variant of the C-27J which was then in service with the U.S. Army. In fact, the Army at one time had plans to acquire some 78 C-27Js. In addition, the Air Force began a competition to develop a Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft. It hoped to have the first 20 aircraft in the hands of Afghan pilots and their Air Force trainers by the beginning of 2013.
Slowly, but relentlessly, the plan to create a global counterinsurgency air force came undone. ...
This is not a good deal, as these aircraft would serve a very useful purpose as they did before...i.e. South East Asia circa 1960's to 70's.
I guess Obamugabe would rather supply our enemies with brand , spankin new f-16's (Egypt) than protect this country.
Traitorous Turd.
Posted by: PALADIN | January 06, 2013 at 12:32 PM