Eight Griffons to Afstan

Been under consideration for quite some time (see 2)):

Canada to send Griffon attack helicopters to Afghanistan [they are utility helicopters, upgraded; this is an "attack helicopter"]

Specially modified helicopter gunships will escort Canada's new Chinook transport helicopters on operations in Afghanistan when they come into service in the new year, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Wednesday.

The eight specially modified CH-146 Griffon utility helicopters will be equipped with large [not .50] machine-guns and sensors.

They will escort and protect six new CH-47 Chinooks, heavy-lift choppers already stationed at the Kandahar airfield [How many right now? Lousy reporting].

"This is going to give us increased … aerial capacity, it will also save lives," MacKay said.

"If we have people not travelling on roads, being able to get to forward operating bases and other parts outside the wire, this is absolutely going to impact on our operational ability in theatre."

Big transport helicopters such as Chinooks are vulnerable to attack by ground fire and rocket-propelled grenades when operating in war zones and usually travel with smaller, armed cousins along for protection.

The military didn't indicate whether the Griffons will be outfitted with missiles, or if they'll be limited to an escort role.

"[The helicopters] can be used for other purposes as well, but that's its primary purpose," MacKay said.

Some, however, have raised concerns the Griffons could be used to launch aerial attacks.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly decried NATO's use of aerial bombings because of the high risk of civilian casualties, saying as recently as yesterday that such attacks by international military forces must end.

Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh also expressed concern Wednesday, calling on the military to rule out any attack role for the new choppers.

"We need to put absolute restrictions on these escort helicopters…they cannot be used for attack purposes. They should be purely for defensive purposes, for escorting," he said.

As many as 250 more Canadian troops [Air Force personnel are, er, not usually described as "troops"] will be sent to Afghanistan to maintain and fly the Griffons.

Does the egregious Ujjal not recognize that, in the course of escorting, some return fire may be needed? Or that, even when not escorting, suppressive fire might just be helpful to our troops.? But then Mr Dosanjh is a Liberal. Forgive the politics; I don't think the Conservative government will readily acknowledge any non-escort role either. The official news release is here; the Griffons will be from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Edmonton.

The usual journalistic and political dealing with military matters. Bah! Humbug!

Thoughts for after 2011. How about keeping the PRT and a fair number of troops to mentor the ANA. But focus the mission on the Air Force, using the CH-47Ds and also new build CH-47Fs as and when we ever get them, Griffons, Heron UAVs, and C-17s and C-130Js to support our force and allies. Troops at KAF to provide force protection and support the mentors in the field when necessary, with required armour, and some JTF2 too. Probably a maximum of around 1,000 from the Army (about what the Aussies now have). No real idea of Air Force numbers but should be I imagine in the mid-hundreds actually in country (then there's Camp Mirage).

That would be a significant and useful contribution that the CF should be able to implement, and that I think would be welcomed by NATO and President Obama. I don't see why, in principle, the Canadian public could not be convinced to go along.

Moving from Kandahar would be very expensive and forgo all the local knowledge and familiarity acquired.

Update: The greater Air Force role now:

Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing