The Taliban showed trophies from the Kabul airport

The United States analyzes photos and videos taken by the Taliban movement (banned in the Russian Federation) at the Kabul airport. They show captured military aircraft, helicopters, cars and other trophies.

According to The Drive, the head of the US Central Command, Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, announced that 73 planes and helicopters were "demilitarized" at the airport before the US military left there. The publication also refers to independent experts Stein Mitzer and Joost Olimans, who are trying to find out which combat aircraft fell into the hands of the Taliban.

It is reported that the captured planes previously belonged to the Afghan armed forces. Among them, eight A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, two AC-208 light cargo aircraft, four Cessna 208 Caravan service aircraft, one C-130H Hercules transport aircraft and a Pilatus PC-12NG surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft are mentioned. The publication also mentions ten UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters, ten Mi-8 / Mi-17, seven MD 530F Little Bird armed reconnaissance aircraft, also belonging to the Afghan Air Force. In addition, five CH-46E Sea Knights of the US State Department were seen in the published photos and videos from Afghanistan.

"The images from the airport in Kabul give some idea of how the aircraft was "demilitarized". On many planes and helicopters, the engine hoods and hatches are open, this indicates that some parts have been removed or damaged. The ground under the engine of one of the A-29s is heavily stained with oil. The windows on the helicopters are broken, as are the sensors in the cabins, and holes are made in the doors. The C-130H is at an angle with the wing lowered, " writes The Drive.

The US military said that all 73 aircraft units mentioned by Mackenzie are permanently disabled. The fact that part of the aircraft is unusable is also confirmed by the images obtained. It is also noted that some equipment and weapons could have been removed from many aircraft even before the fall of Kabul.

"Nevertheless, the process of demilitarization does not seem to have resulted in the complete destruction of aircraft, as many expected. After all, heavy equipment that was at the airport could have been used for this. The Taliban can still use spare parts and other components of captured equipment to try to restore the operation of some aircraft. Various weapons and other systems from aircraft from Kabul airport can also be repurposed. It is interesting to note that the M3 caliber machine guns .The 50 in the A-29 wings appear to be still in place, although we cannot see whether the main parts of these guns were destroyed or otherwise disabled. If they are serviceable, they can be removed and installed on other platforms, " the publication says.

Photos and videos from the airport also show other trophies, including cars, ammunition and bulletproof vests, which fell into the hands of the Taliban.

There was also a photo showing a fleet of former Afghan attack vehicles (MSFV), created on the basis of the design of the American M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV). They were captured either at the airport or somewhere in Kabul.

The author of the publication suggests that the Taliban may have problems with the maintenance of some types of aircraft, but other trophies may well be used in the near future. The Taliban can also get external support to service the advanced weapons that it has seized. In addition, the equipment can simply be sold to parties interested in obtaining it.

Mikhail Rusin