Under 
the mentorship of US and NATO air advisors, members of the Afghan air force’s Kandahar Air Wing recently completed their first 200-hour maintenance phase inspection on an Mi-17 helicopter, achieving another milestone in the fledgling Afghan air arm’s maturation. In addition to conducting the 200-hour inspection, the KAW maintainers replaced worn-out parts on both of the helicopter’s engines, the main gearbox, tail rotor blades, gearbox, and tail rotor chain, according to advisors with NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan. A three-person Afghan training team also came in from Kabul to Kandahar Air Base to oversee their colleagues. Previously, the KAW had to send its Mi-17s to Kabul for these inspections. Gaining the ability to conduct them in-house will improve the wing’s aircraft availability by two days per inspection. In October, the wing received certification to conduct 100-hour inspections. (Kandahar report by MC2 Vladimir Potapenko) (See also AFPS report by Terri Moon Cronk)
Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.