Around the World: Afghanistan

20 transport planes by 2011

The US military will give Afghanistan 20 refurbished transport planes over the next two years, US and Afghan officials said yesterday, doubling the size of its depleted air force. Two of the C-27A medium-sized military transport aircraft, manufactured by Italy's Alenia Aeronautica, have been delivered, Afghan Air Corps Chief of Staff General Abdul Wahab Wardak said. US Army General Stanley McChrystal, US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the remainder of the twin-engine, turbo-prop planes would be delivered by 2011.