Money well spent.

[gotbeer]

US Turns $486 Million Afghan Air Fleet into $32,000 of Scrap Metal

 

[Thomas]

I read that today and was astounded even by today's cynical standards. But then these are the same decision makers who feel the F-35 can replace the A-10 in its role.

[arch stanton]

This is what happens when you buy aircraft based on politics instead of mission requirements.

[TobiasFunke]

Great point Arch

[Blarg]

This is what happens when you buy aircraft based on politics instead of mission requirements.

 

This is what happens when some crook general makes a side deal instead of selling the aircraft outright to another country that isn't living a 24/7 sand storm. The Avionics in one of those aircraft are worth 10 times more than they got for scrap. the engine twice that so someone is black marketing millions. They scrapped them to hide the trail of parts they sold.

[mtangelsfan]

oh hell yes, someone is making that money but it isn't the people of the U.S.

[AngelsLongBall]

Did we get a receipt with this?

[arch stanton]

Proper care and preventative maintenance are pretty foreign concepts in this part of the world. I can't envision the Afghan military having the organization, skills, or concern to do what needed to be done to keep these planes flying. 

 

I'm sure they only scrapped the airframes. DLA know what they're doing. The effort and expense required to make the salvaged components ready for sale would probably make selling everything a little more than a break even proposition. Since they still have 4 aircraft in service some usable components would be placed in the supply system although I have no doubt that anything that could be sold has been sold.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I don't know what the current inventory is, but I would bet that there are some C-130s in mothball at Davis-Monthan that would have served the purpose, and they were already paid for.