NATO explores solutions to airlift shortfall in Afghanistan

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan is suffering a severe lack of in-theatre lift capacity, but no national solutions to address the shortfall are expected for at least another year, according to NATO officials.

This helicopter airlift deficit symbolises the alliance's difficulties encountered collectively generating forces quickly and in a coherent way, but is overshadowed by ISAF's pressing need for more soldiers to fight the Taliban in southern Afghanistan - the main topic of debate during a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Vilnius on 7-8 February.

As a result, NATO is starting to commercially lease Russian-made Mil-8 helicopters to handle in-theatre cargo moves across ISAF operations, although not troop movements, freeing up ISAF's military airlift and tactical helicopters to focus on combat missions. About 20 Mil helicopters will be leased, with some already operating in theatre, a NATO official told Jane's.

Funding will come from the NATO Security Investment Programme - worth about EUR700 million (USD1.02 billion) - a common budget that is normally used to invest in permanent infrastructure and capability. This was agreed after a NATO-sponsored workshop on helicopter lift in December 2007. 190 of 677 words