Logistics, Sustainment Challenge Afghan Army

As the Obama administration begins to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, one of the United States’ main focuses is on training and supplying the Afghan Nation Army. With this in mind, the Obama administration along with decision makers within the Pentagon must consider how the US will put the finishing touches on the training of Afghan military forces, and what supplies and equipment to leave with the Afghans. In his recent article for Defense News, David Pugliese brings to light the struggles that Afghan military officials are facing in preparation for US withdrawal, and the security takeover of homefront operations by Afghan security forces. Pugliese states that Afghan security forces are currently equipped with a mix of US and Soviet weapons, which have been satisfactory in their fight against the insurgency, but are almost completely reliant on funding from other nations, namely the United States. With significant military funding cuts and personnel draw-downs, monetary support from the United States will become slim, which has potential to significantly affect Afghanistan’s ability to sustain their security forces. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. Afzal Aman, states that one of their main weaknesses is a lack of air power, and that although they are training helicopter and fixed-wing pilots, the main issue is a shortage of competent maintenance personnel to sustain significant flight training.

Another significant factor that will affect the logistics and sustainment system, Pugliese notes, is the issue regarding the Bilateral Security Agreement. President Karzai has shown significant resistance in his refusal to sign the agreement, which would govern the continued presence of international troops in country. With the upcoming April presidential elections, many believe that Karzai will be forced out of office, and with that, the signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement by the new president. Despite the Obama administration’s plan to completely withdraw from Afghanistan, they are still considering the Bilateral Security Agreement upon the election of a new Afghan president.  

Textron-built Commando Select Armored Vehicle

As stated earlier by Pugliese, the Afghans are currently using a mix of US and Soviet made weapons, but where do they get their aircraft and ground vehicles from? Senior Pentagon officials decided that $1 billion would be spent on Russian built Mi-17 helicopters, which roughly resembles the Sikorsky-built Blackhawk, only slightly larger. The US has also promised to supply the ANA with 500 Textron Commando Select Armored Vehicles. Pugliese states that other sources of equipment supply have come from the Canadian Army, which has donated Humvees and Ford Trucks to the ANA, because they are simpler to maintain. Pugliese goes onto state that NATO has been very reluctant to supply the Afghans with western tanks and other complex vehicles because of Afghanistan’s inability to sustain maintenance operations on such complex pieces of equipment. 

This is not the first time that Afghanistan has had to deal with a withdrawing foreign Army. In a very similar case, the withdrawal of Soviet forces in the late 1980’s left Afghan forces with stockpiles of Soviet-built small arms that are still used today. The Soviet’s continued to supply the Afghans for some time after their withdrawal, however after years of providing a crutch to the Afghan army, the Soviets cut funding, and the result was dismal for the Afghans.

There are several concerns that NATO and the United States have considering the outcome of Soviet funding cuts in the 1980’s, but two stand out immediately from Pugliese’s article. First, today’s technology is much more sophisticated, and with more sophistication comes greater need for training. Currently, the Afghans are struggling to train their own forces at the tactical level with small arms and un-armored vehicles. Their ability to conduct satisfactory training on more advanced pieces of equipment seems highly unlikely.

Russian Mi-17

Secondly, once Afghanistan begins to be weaned of the American funding plan, Afghan forces will likely run out of munitions and fuel for aircraft and armored fighting vehicles. It seems that if Afghanistan got their wish, and received a fleet of advanced helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and tanks, these vehicles would quickly turn into inoperable pieces of metal. Afghanistan’s ability to sustain anything more complex and sophisticated than what they are working with currently seems impossible given their economic standpoint and ability to fund their own security programs. Until Afghanistan strikes gold, or opium becomes globally legal, it simply seems impossible for Afghanistan to sustain a sufficient “tail” to support a stronger and more complex “tooth.”