With few Afghan air controllers, the US is stuck in a forever war of air support in Afghanistan
By: Shawn Snow  
In a war where airstrikes reign on the battlefield, Afghan forces appear woefully unprepared to bear the burden of a sustained air campaign against Taliban forces — jeopardizing American plans to draw down forces in Afghanistan.
According to a recent Defense Department inspector general report, only 2.5 percent to 7.5 percent of airstrikes from Afghan MD-530 helicopters and A-29 Super Tucanos involved coordination from tactical Afghan air controllers known as ATACs.
The report also noted that the Afghan air force only fields 46 ATACs and 24 air liaison officers, or ALOs, who help develop target and strike packages for Afghan aircraft. Since 2013, Afghan forces have managed to train more than 400 ATACs, “but failed to create a sustainable air-to-ground integration capability,†the IG report reads.
https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2019/11/25/with-few-afghan-air-controllers-the-us-is-stuck-in-a-forever-war-of-air-support-in-afghanistan/
