Afghanistan: Karzai creates an Air Force

June 14, 2010
Press Release - NATO

It is official; the Afghan National Army Air Corps can now call itself an Air Force.

According to order of the President of Afghanistan and the written guidance of the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the Afghan General Staff, the Afghans are changing the name of the Afghan National Army Air Corps to the Afghan National Army Air Force.

The U.S. Air Force also went through similar changes in 1941 as the Army Air Corps and General Headquarters merged to form the U.S. Army Air Forces.

This is another step forward in response to Afghanistan's air power growth; the ANAAF will play an increasing role in Afghanistan's defense, and will require independent authority to ensure the best use of scarce national aviation resources.