List of Afghan Air Force aircraft

Short description: None

This list of Afghan Air Force aircraft covers all aircraft operated by the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and its predecessors, including the Royal Afghan Air Force, Air and Air Defense Force of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the air forces of the various militias and warlords.

By name

Cessna T182T trainers at Shindand Air Base

Cessna 208B at Shindand Air Base

A-29 Super Tucano

C-130 Hercules

MD 530F firing off its gun pods

Mi-17

Mi-35

UH-60A Black Hawks at Kandahar Airfield

Aero L-29 Delfín :24 received from 1978 and serving up to 1999^[1]
Aero L-39C Albatros: 35 received from 1977, three reported in use in 1999 by Dostum-Gulbuddin Militia, three remaining in Air Force service, current status unknown
Aeritalia C-27A: 20 of these tactical transports have been ordered by the United States for delivery from Italy by 2012. Delivered, but no longer in service
Antonov An-2: More than a dozen received from 1957 for a variety of utility transport roles, some may have remained in service with various forces through 2000
Antonov An-12B: 20 received from 1981 for heavy airlift duties, operational until 2001
Antonov An-14B: 12 received from 1985 as utility transports, operational through 1991
Antonov An-24TV: 6 received from 1975 as passenger transports, operational through 2001.Considering the time when it was exported, this model is reasonable.
Antonov An-26: More than fifty received from 1975 as military cargo transports, operational until 2009.For its intended use, it is assumed to be a single An-26 with no suffix.
Antonov An-30A: One received in 1985, did not survive the 1990s
Antonov An-32: As many as seventy three received from 1987 as military cargo transports suited to Afghanistan's hot and high environment, operational until 2011
Avro Anson 18: 13 received from 1948, with the last removed in 1972
Bartel BM-4b: One obtained in 1928
Breda Ba.25/28: Eight obtained from 1937, eliminated by 1945
Bristol F.2 Fighter: Three obtained in 1919, served through 1929
Boeing 727: 3 Entering service as VIP transports
Cessna T182T: Six used between 2011 and 2016. Used as a basic trainer.^[2]
Cessna 208B: 24 aircraft currently in service

Cessna AC-208: 10 aircraft currently in service

de Havilland DH.9A: Two added in 1924
de Havilland R-1: 16 obtained from 1924 to 1926
Embraer A-29 Super Tucano: Advanced fixed wing trainer and COIN Attack aircraft. 26 aircraft in service with AAF.^[3]
HAL Cheetah 3 obtained from 2014, currently operational
Hawker Hart: Eight obtained from 1937, soon replaced
Hawker Hind: 28 obtained from 1938, served as late as 1957 (one flying model currently in Shuttleworth Collection)
Ilyushin Il-10: Unconfirmed
Ilyushin Il-14S/M/T: 26 received from 1955 on, served through 2001^[4]
Ilyushin Il-18: 5 received from 1968, served through 2001.In addition, since it is unlikely that a civilian passenger version will be introduced, this is likely to be a military transport version of the IL-18VT.
Ilyushin Il-28/U: 50 received as bombers plus 4 more as trainers from 1957, finally retired in 1994, although trainers may have remained through 2001
IMAM Ro.37: 16 obtained for reconnaissance from 1937, out of service by 1941 (one on static display at Italian Embassy, Kabul)
Junkers A.20: One squadron equipped from 1925 through 1929
Junkers F.13fe: 4 obtained in 1924 and served through 1939
Junkers G.24ge: 1 obtained in 1928
Lockheed C-130 Hercules: 4 C-130H models obtained in 2013 as replacements for the C-27A's
MD 530F: Either "18 currently operational;" 29 reported in service by FlightGlobal, 2017,^[5] or 68.
Mikoyan MiG-15bis: 4 fighters received in 1951 and remained through 1979
Mikoyan MiG-15UTI: 38 trainers received from 1957 and served as late as 1998
Mikoyan MiG-17F: 100 fighters received from 1957
Mikoyan MiG-21FL: 40 fighters received from 1965 and serving up to 1996
Mikoyan MiG-21MF: 70 fighters received from 1980 and serving up to 2001
Mikoyan MiG-21bis: 50 fighters received from 1980 and serving up to 2005
Mil Mi-1: 12 utility helicopters received from 1957 and retained through 1976.Since it was introduced in 1957, it is speculated that the Mi-1TKR could be used for liaison and reconnaissance missions, given that it is in the Air Force.
Mil Mi-2: About six delivered for use as utility transport helicopters in 1982.The aircraft has a Mi-2B as an export type for the Middle East, and it is said that it was also sent to Afghanistan.
Mil Mi-4: 18 utility helicopters received from 1963 and remaining in service as late as 1997.There is a famous scene where soldiers are taking a commemorative photo immediately after the plane crashed, but since there is no rack for mounting weapons on the outside, it seems to be a Mi-4A type that transports assault soldiers.^[6]
Mil Mi-6: Perhaps served briefly during the Soviet presence.No images left.
Mil Mi-8T: 30 transport helicopters received from 1971
Mil Mi-17-1: 35 transport helicopters delivered from 1987, with 39 currently in Air Force service (including three dedicated to presidential/distinguished visitor airlift).
Mil Mi-17B5: 21 transport helicopters delivered from 2011.
Mil Mi-25: 115 assault helicopters delivered from 1979
Mil Mi-35: (As of 2015), 6 in Air Force service, to be partially replaced by 20 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano^[7]
Nieuport 24: Unknown number obtained from 1921
Pilatus PC-12: Special operations ISR/ light transport/ utility aircraft, operational from 2014
Potez 25: One obtained in 1928, destroyed in 1929
Sopwith 1½ Strutter: A few obtained from 1921, discarded by 1925
Sukhoi Su-7BMK/U: 24 attack and 16 trainer models received from 1972 and serving to 1989
Sukhoi Su-22M3: 25 attack aircraft delivered from 1982, serving to 2001.Judging from the time, it is supposed to be the Su-22M3, an export version of the Su-17M3.
Sukhoi Su-22M4: 45 attack aircraft delivered from 1984, serving to 2001.
UH-60A: Four in use for training, with over 150 ordered an unlikely to be delivered in the coming years
Yakovlev Yak-11: 14 primary trainers obtained from 1958, serving to 1999
Yakovlev Yak-18: 14 trainers obtained from 1957, serving 2001

By date of service

1919 to 1929: Bristol F.2 Fighter
1921 to ?: Nieuport 24
1921 to 1925: Sopwith 1½ Strutter

1924 to 1929

1924 to ?: de Havilland DH.9A
1924 to 1926: de Havilland R-1
1924 to 1939: Junkers F.13fe
1925 to 1929: Junkers A.20
1928 to ?: Bartel BM 4b
1928 to ?: Junkers G.24ge
1928 to 1929: Potez 25

1937 to 1967

1937 to ?: Hawker Hart
1937 to 1945: Breda Ba.25/28
1937 to 1941: IMAM Ro.37 (one on static display at Italian Embassy, Kabul)
1938 to 1957: Hawker Hind (one flying model currently in Shuttleworth Collection)
1948 to 1972: Avro Anson
1951 to 1979: Mikoyan MiG-15
1955 to 2001: Ilyushin Il-14
1957 to 2001: Ilyushin Il-28
1957 to 2001: Yakovlev Yak-18
1957 to 1976: Mil Mi-1
1957 to 1998: Mikoyan MiG-15UTI
1957 to 2000: Antonov An-2
1957 to 2001: Mikoyan MiG-17
1958 to 1999: Yakovlev Yak-11
1963 to 1997: Mil Mi-4