The Afghan National Army Air Corps in February took another important step towards fielding a professional, self-sufficient force when its first class of doctors—six in all—graduated from their nine-month flight surgeon course that was taught by medical advisors of the Combined Air Power Transition Force. Their graduation ceremony took place Feb. 16 in Kabul. These newly winged Afghan flight surgeons give the Afghan military, for the first time, doctors with the knowledge to treat medical issues associated with the rigors of aviation. They now form the nucleus of future ANAAC aerospace medicine cadre. The CAPTF is tasked with helping the fledgling Afghan air arm grow into a capable fighting force. Its flight surgeon training course for the Afghans is modeled on the aerospace medicine primary course that USAF doctors must attend to become flight surgeons. (NTM-A release)
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.