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US NAVAIR helps re-build the Afghan National Army Air Corps
The AN-32 is an all-weather transport aircraft that is ideally suited to flying missions in Afghanistan's tough environment. It is widely used by commercial and military operators world-wide. "This programme was really unique," said Capt. James G. Wallace, Programme Manager for the Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft Programme Office (PMA-207). "People can work in the acquisition world their entire careers and not see the final product. With this AN-32 buy, the team got to see the entire process happen in front of their eyes in a little more than 60 days." The Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft Programme Office, using an accelerated acquisition strategy, bought the AN-32s from commercial sources. An ANAAC acquisition team was assembled from members of the various NAVAIR organisations and deployed to Kiev, Ukraine to find the needed aircraft. The technical team inspected the aircraft for sale and found that they met the required specifications and were in excellent condition. "We understood the urgency of the requirement and the critical need for these aircraft," said Mr. Richard Senkel (Deputy Programme Manager) and members of NAVAIR's contracting staff. "The aircraft and logistics support that we have delivered have had a direct impact on operations in the Central Command Area of Responsibility. Through additional taskings, we will continue to support CSTC-A and the ANAAC for the near future." The ANAAC have operated AN-32 aircraft without any logistical support since 1989. The ANAAC is currently being trained by the Combined Airpower Task Force-Afghanistan (CAPTF-A). Reestablishment of an effective air force is a national priority for both the US and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
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The US Navy's NAVAIR's Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft Programme Office, responding to a direct request from Afghanistan's President and Minister of Defence via the Navy's International Programme Office, was directed to buy four Antonov AN-32 "Cline" aircraft for the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) through the Foreign Military Sales program.