Key Facts
- Turbine weight
- 220 tonnes
- Destination
- Kajaki Dam, Helmand Province
- Lead formation
- 16th Air Assault Brigade (British Army)
- Scale
- One of largest British Army logistics ops since WWII
- Operation name origin
- Eagle on 16th Air Assault Brigade insignia
Strategic Narrative Overview
ISAF and Afghan National Army forces mounted a large-scale combined operation to escort and protect a convoy carrying the 220-tonne turbine along the dangerous route to Kajaki Dam. British troops, operating under 16th Air Assault Brigade, formed a central component of the force. The operation required extensive planning, route clearance, and security cordons to move the oversized load through hostile terrain while managing the threat of Taliban ambushes and improvised explosive devices.
01 / The Origins
By 2008, the Kajaki Dam in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, was operating below capacity due to a missing turbine. Restoring full power generation was a strategic priority for ISAF and the Afghan government, as increased electricity output would benefit the local population and undermine Taliban influence. However, the supply route from Kandahar through Helmand passed through territory firmly held by Taliban insurgents, making delivery a significant military and logistical challenge.
03 / The Outcome
Operation Eagle's Summit concluded successfully, with the turbine delivered to Kajaki Dam. The coalition achieved its objective without losing the cargo to Taliban interference. The operation was widely noted as one of the most complex logistical undertakings by the British Army since World War II, and it was expected to increase the dam's electricity generation capacity, providing a tangible development benefit to the population of Helmand Province.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Side B
1 belligerent