{"id":41856,"date":"2019-11-25T15:18:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T15:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/11\/25\/with-few-afghan-air-controllers-the-us-is-stuck-in-a-forever-war-of-air-support-in-afghanistan\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:33:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:33:46","slug":"with-few-afghan-air-controllers-the-us-is-stuck-in-a-forever-war-of-air-support-in-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/11\/25\/with-few-afghan-air-controllers-the-us-is-stuck-in-a-forever-war-of-air-support-in-afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"With few Afghan air controllers, the US is stuck in a forever war of air support in Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a war where airstrikes<\/a> reign on the battlefield, Afghan forces appear woefully unprepared to bear the burden of a sustained air campaign against Taliban forces \u2014 jeopardizing American plans to draw down forces in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a recent Defense Department inspector general <\/a>report, only 2.5 percent to 7.5 percent of airstrikes from Afghan MD-530 helicopters and A-29 Super Tucanos involved coordination from tactical Afghan air controllers known as ATACs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report also noted that the Afghan air force <\/a>only fields 46 ATACs and 24 air liaison officers, or ALOs, who help develop target and strike packages for Afghan aircraft. Since 2013, Afghan forces have managed to train more than 400 ATACs, \u201cbut failed to create a sustainable air-to-ground integration capability,\u201d the IG report reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFailure to fully train ATACs and ALOs increases the risk that ANDSF units operating in areas without airfields or helicopter landing zones will not receive critical supplies\u2026[and increases] the risk of civilian casualties and fratricide,” the report reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\t