Afghan air force ascent slow, imperilling battle with Taliban

Afghan Air Force helicopters land at the military airport in Kabul December 18, 2014. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's armed forces are so short of combat-ready aircraft that, late last year, they began fitting machine guns and rockets to Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopters, dubbed "flying tractors", to bolster their air power.

With new planes capable of engaging Taliban insurgents delayed by over two years, and NATO air missions backing up troops on the ground now at a minimum, the fledgling Afghan Air Force is scrambling to provide even basic support.