Taliban RPGs Down European Helicopter Over Helmand Province - Reports
Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff
Afghan Militiaman with Singer Surface to Air Missile
Taliban militants from the Taliban militias have successfully down an Mi-8MTV-1 helicopter operated by a Moldovan defence contractor, which was operating alongside NATO forces in the country. The helicopter managed a successful crash landing, with minor injuries to its three crew - two Ukrainians and a Moldovan pilot. The Taliban reportedly used a manual anti tank grenade launcher to shoot down the aircraft. While not a NATO member, Moldova has worked closely with NATO in Afghanistan and Moldovan Mi-8 helicopters have previously served as transports for U.S. and other Western military personnel. Taliban forces previously downed an Mi-8 in 2015, which was at the time serving as a transport for American troops. Taliban forces have in recent years deployed increasingly sophisticated equipment, and as their ongoing conflict with the United States and its allies approaches its 19th year the militias' capacities appear to only be growing.
