Which new techniques of air warfare were pioneered by the Soviets in Afghanistan?
The Soviets perfected the use of the attack helicopter to support their counter-insurgency operations and for convoy protection. They also developed the tactics for Heli-borne assaults.

Which Soviet aircraft types proved capable?

The most successful soviet type must be the Mi-8 (Hip), which was also used throughout the Coalition operations both by civilian contractors and coalition military forces – even the Canadian armed forces operated one!

…And which disappointed?

The Yak-38 Forger was deployed for a few months but proved to be completely unsuitable – difficult to fly, performance limited and with a puny war load.

Which new techniques of air warfare were pioneered by US or NATO in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan (and the contemporaneous Iraqi insurgency) brought a sea change in the way that offensive support air power operated: where previously aircraft would get airborne to follow a pre-planned mission profile, often in isolation to the ground forces, in Afghanistan pilots got airborne not knowing where they were going or what they would face when they got there, and they were completely integrated into ground force operations.

Which US or NATO in aircraft types proved capable?
Pretty much all the types used by the US/ Coalition air forces proved very capable – especially the B-1B which was, rather surprisingly, extremely effective close air support platform. The Predator and Reaper RPAS also showed their value both as surveillance tools and also as strike assets.

Did US/NATO fail to note any lessons learnt by the Soviets in Afghan?
I think that the point about Afghanistan is that no-one at any stage appears to have looked at what could be learnt from previous conflicts in the country. The writing was on the wall in 1841!

What did anti invader Afghan forces learn in Soviet occupation that they could apply to the 21st century conflict?
The Soviet invasion gave the Afghans the opportunity to practise their basic infantry skills and to perfect insurgent/ guerrilla warfare and they became particularly accomplished in ambush techniques.

Were Stingers very important or significant in the time of the Soviet occupation?
Yes – they severely limited the use of Soviet tactical air power in the second half of the decade, which led to a drop-off in the effectiveness of Soviet air power.

How did any of the wars affect aircraft development?
They didn’t! Most aircraft types since the 1970s onwards have been very capable and incredibly flexible, so the change was actually in the way that they were used tactically (see point 4 above), rather than any need to change the design. I think that the Afghan and Iraqi conflicts did accelerate the employment of smaller precision guided munitions, in an effort to minimise collateral damage.

What is the current state of the Taliban’s air forces?
Unknown – much of the Afghan Air Force inventory was flown out of the country when the government fell in 2021. Some light aircraft, helicopters and possibly transport aircraft remain, but their serviceability state is unknown, as is the number of pilots to fly them.

What was your biggest surprise in researching the subject?
Really how little was learnt from prior conflicts! I was also surprised (because I had never really thought about it) to learn that because of the long range involved, the B-2 stealth mission on the second night took off before the first day of the war had even happened!

What is the biggest myth?
That there was ever a military solution, or indeed any ‘foreign’ solution, to Afghanistan.

What should I have asked you?
“What was the most important aspect of air power during the Soviet and Coalition occupations of Afghanistan?” – I would have answered air transport, since because of the geography of, and limited infrastructure in, Afghanistan, pretty much everything that the foreign forces needed (supplies, equipment, personnel) had to be transported into and around the country by air.

Do you talk to aircrew who fought about how they feel about the current state of Afghanistan and whether they feel the effort was advisable or worthwhile?
No, I have purposely not discussed that aspect – I think that it is emotionally difficult for them, since despite their best efforts over two decades and an incredible amount of bloodshed, nothing really changed in the long run.

Michael Napier is a former RAF Tornado pilot and author of Afghan Air Wars

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