Afghanistan force boost

A FURTHER 110 Australian troops and two Chinook helicopters are set to deploy to Afghanistan this month to bolster the existing 190 troops there as part of the SF Task Group (SFTG).

The additional commitment to Op Slipper was announced on January 10.

CDF ACM Angus Houston said the team would become part of the SFTG operating under the auspices of the Combined Forces Command in Afghanistan.

“The Chinook team will operate with other coalition aviation assets and they will provide aeromedical evacuation and air mobility support to our SFTG and other coalition troops who are operating alongside our forces,” ACM Houston said.

He said the Chinook team was expected to deploy this month following an upgrade of the helicopters. This $25 million upgrade will improve their safety and survivability, as well as their ability to work closely with Coalition forces.

“Our Chinooks will certainly have all the necessary protection and latest technology to be safely deployed into the challenging environment in Afghanistan,” ACM Houston said.

“I expect the team will be fully operational by late March and that they will remain in Afghanistan for the remainder of the SFTG commitment. However, our Chinook team’s presence in Afghanistan may be extended by the Government if it considers that a Provincial Reconstruction Team should be deployed.”

The exact role and composition of such a team has not yet been decided as NATO is still determining the details of phase three of the International Security Assistance Force expansion into Southern Afghanistan.

The increase in Australian troops in Afghanistan will coincide with an increase of almost 1100 Canadian troops in Task Force Afghanistan, which is set to grow from almost 900 to 2000 in February with the deployment in Kandahar of a multinational brigade headquarters and a battle group.