Afghanistan welcomes final batch of A-29s
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has received its final four A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft out of 26 ordered from the US.
‘The AAF now has the capacity to plan and implement operations independently,’ AAF Commander Lt Gen Abdul Fahim Ramin said on 17 September in a ceremony marking the arrival of the aircraft.
According to the Afghanistan MoD, the A-29 fleet is equipped with machine guns, rockets, and laser-guided bombs.
In February 2013, the USAF awarded prime contractor Sierra Nevada a contract to build 20 Super Tucanos, given the US designation A-29, to provide a light air support capability for the AAF. The first was delivered to the USAF in September 2014.
This indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract was later extended to 26 aircraft. Nine of these are employed by the USAF for training AAF pilots and engineers.
Shephard Defence Insight estimates an out-of-service date of 2039 for the Afghan A-29 fleet.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
IDEX 2025: Powertech takes Edge Group into the global propulsion market
The new company will focus on aero engines and propulsion systems on the global market.
-
Rheinmetall to deliver C-390 simulators
The order is from the Netherlands and is the third order worldwide, and the second in Europe after contracts from Embraer and Portugal.
-
IDEX 2025: Heven Drones launches ‘The Raider’, its new hydrogen-powered UAS
The new uncrewed aerial system has been designed to address multiple mission requirements, building on its H2D family of drones with an extended range and payload capacity.
-
Netherlands signs deal for eight PC-7 MKX training aircraft
The eight new aircraft will also be joined by four flight simulators, the former replacing the air force’s current Pilatus PC-7 training aircraft by 2027.