Posted on 08/25/2021 10:40:45 AM PDT by USA Conservative
Americans who trained Afghan pilots and ground crews are now raising the alarm about their safety. Though some flew out of the country, others are still in Afghanistan, hiding from the Taliban. And they are desperate to get out, fearing the Taliban may learn their identities and retaliate.
As videos emerged of Taliban fighters carrying US-made M4 and M18 assault rifles and M24 sniper weapons, the US conceded it does not have the “complete picture” while adding that “a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban”.
“Obviously, we don’t have a sense that they are going to readily hand it over to us,” Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor said.
Taliban fighters were seen reportedly climbing on American Black Hawk helicopters as the Afghan troops were pushed back from major areas in Afghanistan.
Video below:
Now a video surfaced where the Taliban tried to fly the Black Hawk helicopters or should I say drive them!
Video below:
Reporters are claiming they are able to fly them but the video doesn’t give enough confidence.
I would say hell no, they are running a Blackhawk down a taxi way. That is not flying.
That is like saying you are dating someone because you sat next to them on the Metro.
The U.S. provided an estimated $83 billion worth of training and equipment to Afghan security forces since 2001. This year, alone, the U.S. military aid to Afghan forces was $3 billion.
Putting price tags on American military equipment still in Afghanistan isn’t an easy task. In the fog of war – or withdrawal – Afghanistan has always been a black box with little sunshine.
This month, the Taliban seized Black Hawk helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft. As late as last month, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense posted photos on social media of seven newly arrived helicopters from the U.S., Reuters reported.
Black Hawk helicopters can cost up to $21 million. In 2013, the U.S. placed an order for 20 A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft for $427 million – that’s $21.3 million for each plane. Other specialized helicopters can cost up to $37 million each.
The Afghan air force contracted for C-208 light attack airplanes in March 2018: seven planes for $84.6 million, or $12.1 million each. The airplanes are very sophisticated and carry HELLFIRE missiles, anti-tank missiles and other weaponry.
But after watching the video I have to ask, do they know how to get it off the ground?
These 6th Century throwbacks are jokes at maintenance of equipment. It will all be worthless and inoperative in a few weeks.
I’m sure expert training and maintenance will be part of the hostage release agreement that the Biden administration is working on.
What doesn’t look good is the Taliban getting the Blackhawk Helicopter to begin with.
They don’t have the flight skill, the maintenance training, or the spare parts to use any of the advance aircraft, for sure.
We’re going to see some self-eliminating pilots.
What is stopping the Taliban from hiring Muslim helicopter pilots from former Soviet bloc countries? Nothing. There are probably a lot of Cechen helicopter pilots out there.
This is a disaster of epic proportion’s.
Those Twitter videos are somewhat underwhelming.
Not very much happens in the three I saw.
I will admit to expecting at least one in-air collision between two copters.
Yep. They won’t be hurting for volunteers.
Black Hawk helicopters can cost up to $21 million.....
When the US sells or gives another country equipment, except for very few circumstances, they don’t get what US pilots are flying. They get the bare bones. Hell the Israeli’s buy the bare bones, intentionally, and put their own stuff in, which is sometimes better than ours.
There is another video of them taxing a HIND and they do get it off the ground.
Eventually, they’ll learn to fly and crash. They’ll run of parts as most don’t realize how much work and money it costs to keep those things in the air.
As for the pilots, the Taliban will eventually find the ones that are in hiding. When they do it’ll be...Fly or we kill you and your entire family in front of you, before we skin you alive. Hmmmmm....decisions, decisions.
In this modern world of electronics, software, and hacking, you would think the US would have the capability in a short period of time to be able to overwrite software used to control our military vehicles and weapons. Lord knows we have the capability of doing that with our voting machines.
Only dummies would leave their military equipment open for remote access.
“If Allah wills it!”
It’s just like riding a camel!
I’m surprised they knew how to fire up the engines.
“It will all be worthless and inoperative in a few weeks.”
Hand grenades, grenade launchers, and rifles included in your assessment?
L
I wasn’t talking about having a wireless access to the vehicle’s software. Physical connection only. Protected access.
Our tax dollars at work . . .. Thanks Biden!
I have to say, they did taxi the helicopter without crashing into anything
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