The Pentagon spent more than $ 1 billion in three-quarters of purchasing Russian-made helicopters and other aircraft for the Afghan air force lack the expertise to operate and maintain the equipment, a government watchdog warned.
Afghanistan Reconstruction Special Inspector General said in a report on Friday that these shortcomings mean that helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to Afghanistan Mission wing "can stay in Afghanistan, sitting on the runway, rather than supporting mission-critical, resulting in a waste of U.S. funds." . The report recommends the purchase on hold until the Afghans develop capabilities to support aircraft.
The result is certainly echoed on Capitol Hill, where there is buying MI-17 helicopter from the Rosoboronexport, Russia's state arms exporter, which is a leading arms supplier, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's strong opposition.
The Pentagon announced on June 17, Rosoboronexport has been granted a $ 55.4 billion contract for 30 m 17S Wing used to pass a special mission, a move to a few days later, the House approved a 2014 defense policy bill including a prohibition contract with the Russian agency. Senate Armed Services Committee, in its version of the bill includes a similar ban.
2013 defense policy bill also prohibits the Pentagon and Rosoboronexport (Rosoboronexport) contract for use of the financial capital. But the Pentagon said that from fiscal 2012 money was used MI-17 acquisition, such restrictions do not apply.
Defense Ministry spokesman said, "urgent short-term needs" to buy wing Mi-17, a multi-purpose aircraft designed to operate at high altitudes, especially for wings.
"Carefully consider all the information provided by the Department confirmed that it would be in the public interest, to promote MI-17 (wing) needs to Rosoboronexport," Lieutenant Colonel Jim Gregory said in a statement.
Apart m -17, the Pentagon spent $ 218 million of 18 PC-12 cargo plane sparks, Nevada Sierra Nevada company, allowing mission-wing anti-terrorism and anti-narcotics task execution, the report said.
Special inspector general has recommended its suspension purchase until the wing staffing, recruitment and training issues are resolved. Chief among them is the Afghan interior and defense will give the military control of the Memorandum of Understanding between the wing, finalized. But the file is still unsigned, which was mainly due to the Ministry of Interior "Resistance to relinquish power," the wing, according to the report.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Dumont, said to be the views contained in the report, postpone the purchase of the aircraft, until the signing of the agreement "unacceptable delay efforts to develop (wing) forces."
Wing is mid-2015, there are 806 staff, but just 180 in late January, according to the report.
Filling wing team will not be easy, the report says, because looking for Afghan recruits, who are in their own language, literacy, English for Executives challenges through rigorous 18 - 20 months of the approval process for the United States, including the elimination of criminal candidates insurgency activities or relationships.
Afghan trainees from the helicopter flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the flow in the Czech Republic "is more intense training has been slow and uneven, ranging from a low two eight students at the same time," according to the special inspector general .
The report blamed the lack of stable funding from the U.S. Department of Defense training, the failure of quasi-pilot and flight engineer, background checks, and the Czech government's requirements, each student has the Afghan authorities in Afghanistan, signed the certificate.
Reported that a basic command of English, because Afghans are in high demand and can get a higher return elsewhere compensation, especially for mechanics is another obstacle to recruitment.
Another key shortcoming is the lack of pilots to fly at night, when most of the anti-terrorism task. Reported that as of the end of January the 47 pilots assigned to the wing, only seven are completely qualified NVG missions.
 



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