WASHINGTON -- Afghanistan plans to triple its air force by 2023 to bolster its proven and lethal role in the fight against terrorism, US Air Force Brig. Gen. Lance Bunch told reporters in Washington via teleconference from Kabul Tuesday (December 12).
The Afghan air force is "conducting significantly more air operations in direct support of the ANDSF on the battlefield, to the tune of 500 more sorties this year than they did the year before", he added.
"We're looking to triple [the Afghan air force] ... by 2023," he said.
Speaking earlier this month at the Heart of Asia Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, President Ashraf Ghani also said that his country is planning to double its special forces.