Afghan forces get 2 C-27 military support planes

KABUL — Two C-27 military support planes have been delivered to the Afghan National Army Air Corps — a small step on the road to helping Afghanistan's security forces develop a modern aerial fleet.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, and Afghan Defense Minister Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak spoke in Kabul Sunday at a dedication ceremony for the twin-engine turboprop aircraft, which have short takeoff and landing capability needed in mountainous regions of Afghanistan.

McChrystal says that by the spring of next year, four fully trained Afghan air crews will be partnering with coalition airmen to operate a fleet of six C-27s, and by August 2011, Afghanistan will have 30 trained crews and 20 aircraft.

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