On August 14, the Taliban held a military parade at Bagram Airbase to commemorate the third anniversary of its "Conquest of Kabul," which primarily consisted of vehicles and equipment left behind by American forces during the country's withdrawal..In this article, we will break down some of the equipment seen in media released by the Taliban of the event..HMMWV.One of the most recognizable vehicles seen during today's parade is the American-made High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), colloquially known as the Humvee, which was used by both American and Afghan forces..For the past 40 years, the Humvee has been a staple of the United States military, having seen extensive service throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in other operations across the globe. Having once been the primary patrol vehicle for American forces, it was soon replaced with Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles due to its vulnerabilities against the increased use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by the Taliban. Nonetheless, the Humvee remains in active service..According to the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), over 20,000 Humvees were left in Afghanistan. As seen in the photo above, the Taliban appears to have converted the Humvees into technicals by mounting Soviet ZU-23 anti-aircraft autocannons onto them..International MaxxPro.Another recognizable vehicle showcased in the parade is the International M1224 MRAP, which was also used by both American and Afghan forces..The MaxxPro ultimately became the primary patrol vehicle, replacing the HMMWV, due to its durability against IED attacks. With a V-shaped hull, the blast caused by a detonation is deflected, reducing damage and increasing survivability for the crew..The MaxxPro continues to be used by American forces in Iraq and Syria, as well as by Ukrainian forces in operations against the Russian invasion..According to the GAO, over 150 MaxxPros were left in Afghanistan..M113 APC.Afghan forces operated over 150 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), which were supplied by the United States. The vehicle made its combat debut in 1962 during the Vietnam War and has been used in conflicts around the world since..Largely replaced by the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in the 1980s, there was limited M113 use by American forces in Afghanistan..According to the GAO, over 160 M113s were left in Afghanistan..M1117 Guardian ASV.Based on the V-100 armored car, the M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) was used for convoy protection and was also adopted by Afghan forces as their Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (MSFV)..Hundreds of M1117 Guardians were in service by Afghan forces by the time of the Taliban takeover..Navistar 7000-Series.Navistar 7000-series trucks fulfilled an array of logistical roles for Afghan forces and were supplied by the United States..UH-60 Blackhawk.The Afghan Air Force had 28 UH-60 Blackhawks in 2021, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which were supplied due to issues sourcing spare parts for Mi-17 helicopters following the Russian annexation of Crimea..American maintenance contractors began to leave the country in the months and weeks ahead of the Taliban takeover. "Every aircraft that had battle damage or needed maintenance was grounded," a former Afghan National Army (ANA) senior officer told SIGAR in a recent interview.."In a matter of months, 60 percent of [the US-provided UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters] were grounded, with no alternative plan by the Afghan government or US government to bring them back to life," SIGAR added..As the Taliban continued to capture large swaths of the country and push into Kabul, inventory dwindled as pilots took the remaining operational helicopters and fled into neighboring countries..As seen in the parade, several UH-60s have been repaired and made flight-worthy, likely cannibalizing the remaining inventory..MD-530.Often mistaken for the MH-6 Little Bird, the MD-530 was the primary light attack helicopter of the Afghan Air Force..Much like the UH-60, many of the MD-530s left in the country were either damaged or in need of serious maintenance following last-ditch operations to slow the Taliban advance..According to SIGAR, 42 MD-530s were operational in Afghanistan before the fall..Mi-17 Hip.The Mi-17 Hip continues to be one of the primary helicopter workhorses around the world and has been in use in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion..According to SIGAR, the Afghan Air Force had 12 serviceable Hips in the country before the fall, and all were captured. The United States ultimately aimed to fully replace the Mi-17s with UH-60s by 2030, hence the low inventory numbers..At the time of the Taliban takeover, several Mi-17s were either in the United States or Ukraine for maintenance and have since been donated to Ukrainian forces in their war effort against Russia. These can easily be identified by their unique Afghan Air Force camouflage scheme..Mi-24/35 Hind.Much like the Mi-17, the Mi-24/35 has been in service in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion..In footage from the parade, at least three Mi-24/35s were seen in airworthy condition. During the takeover, the Taliban captured at least 15 airframes, although most were not able to be operated..The three seen in the parade are likely the only operational Mi-24/35s in the country, having cannibalized parts from the other airframes..C/AC-208.The only fixed-wing aircraft to make an appearance at the parade were Cessna 208 utility aircraft, which served as trainers or transport aircraft for the Afghan Air Force..The Afghan Air Force also operated an armed version, known as the AC-208..SIGAR stated that the Afghan Air Force operated 10 AC-208 airframes and 23 C-208 airframes.
On August 14, the Taliban held a military parade at Bagram Airbase to commemorate the third anniversary of its "Conquest of Kabul," which primarily consisted of vehicles and equipment left behind by American forces during the country's withdrawal..In this article, we will break down some of the equipment seen in media released by the Taliban of the event..HMMWV.One of the most recognizable vehicles seen during today's parade is the American-made High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), colloquially known as the Humvee, which was used by both American and Afghan forces..For the past 40 years, the Humvee has been a staple of the United States military, having seen extensive service throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in other operations across the globe. Having once been the primary patrol vehicle for American forces, it was soon replaced with Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles due to its vulnerabilities against the increased use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by the Taliban. Nonetheless, the Humvee remains in active service..According to the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), over 20,000 Humvees were left in Afghanistan. As seen in the photo above, the Taliban appears to have converted the Humvees into technicals by mounting Soviet ZU-23 anti-aircraft autocannons onto them..International MaxxPro.Another recognizable vehicle showcased in the parade is the International M1224 MRAP, which was also used by both American and Afghan forces..The MaxxPro ultimately became the primary patrol vehicle, replacing the HMMWV, due to its durability against IED attacks. With a V-shaped hull, the blast caused by a detonation is deflected, reducing damage and increasing survivability for the crew..The MaxxPro continues to be used by American forces in Iraq and Syria, as well as by Ukrainian forces in operations against the Russian invasion..According to the GAO, over 150 MaxxPros were left in Afghanistan..M113 APC.Afghan forces operated over 150 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), which were supplied by the United States. The vehicle made its combat debut in 1962 during the Vietnam War and has been used in conflicts around the world since..Largely replaced by the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in the 1980s, there was limited M113 use by American forces in Afghanistan..According to the GAO, over 160 M113s were left in Afghanistan..M1117 Guardian ASV.Based on the V-100 armored car, the M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) was used for convoy protection and was also adopted by Afghan forces as their Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (MSFV)..Hundreds of M1117 Guardians were in service by Afghan forces by the time of the Taliban takeover..Navistar 7000-Series.Navistar 7000-series trucks fulfilled an array of logistical roles for Afghan forces and were supplied by the United States..UH-60 Blackhawk.The Afghan Air Force had 28 UH-60 Blackhawks in 2021, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which were supplied due to issues sourcing spare parts for Mi-17 helicopters following the Russian annexation of Crimea..American maintenance contractors began to leave the country in the months and weeks ahead of the Taliban takeover. "Every aircraft that had battle damage or needed maintenance was grounded," a former Afghan National Army (ANA) senior officer told SIGAR in a recent interview.."In a matter of months, 60 percent of [the US-provided UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters] were grounded, with no alternative plan by the Afghan government or US government to bring them back to life," SIGAR added..As the Taliban continued to capture large swaths of the country and push into Kabul, inventory dwindled as pilots took the remaining operational helicopters and fled into neighboring countries..As seen in the parade, several UH-60s have been repaired and made flight-worthy, likely cannibalizing the remaining inventory..MD-530.Often mistaken for the MH-6 Little Bird, the MD-530 was the primary light attack helicopter of the Afghan Air Force..Much like the UH-60, many of the MD-530s left in the country were either damaged or in need of serious maintenance following last-ditch operations to slow the Taliban advance..According to SIGAR, 42 MD-530s were operational in Afghanistan before the fall..Mi-17 Hip.The Mi-17 Hip continues to be one of the primary helicopter workhorses around the world and has been in use in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion..According to SIGAR, the Afghan Air Force had 12 serviceable Hips in the country before the fall, and all were captured. The United States ultimately aimed to fully replace the Mi-17s with UH-60s by 2030, hence the low inventory numbers..At the time of the Taliban takeover, several Mi-17s were either in the United States or Ukraine for maintenance and have since been donated to Ukrainian forces in their war effort against Russia. These can easily be identified by their unique Afghan Air Force camouflage scheme..Mi-24/35 Hind.Much like the Mi-17, the Mi-24/35 has been in service in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion..In footage from the parade, at least three Mi-24/35s were seen in airworthy condition. During the takeover, the Taliban captured at least 15 airframes, although most were not able to be operated..The three seen in the parade are likely the only operational Mi-24/35s in the country, having cannibalized parts from the other airframes..C/AC-208.The only fixed-wing aircraft to make an appearance at the parade were Cessna 208 utility aircraft, which served as trainers or transport aircraft for the Afghan Air Force..The Afghan Air Force also operated an armed version, known as the AC-208..SIGAR stated that the Afghan Air Force operated 10 AC-208 airframes and 23 C-208 airframes.
