Taliban plan a 'great coup, bonanza' by bringing down famed British Chinooks

London, May 2 (ANI): The Taliban is planning to bring down one of the eight Chinooks operating in Afghanistan, in the hope that the attack will weaken Britain's resolve to continue the campaign in Helmand.

British Chinook helicopter routinely carry more than 40 armed troops, and aliban insurgents are actively seeking to bring down one of the eight Chinooks operating in Afghanistan, defence sources have said.

In the last fortnight coalition forces have destroyed four anti-aircraft guns mounted on trucks averting a potential disaster, The Telegraph reported.

Intelligence sources suggest that the Taliban's surface-to-air missiles have been made redundant by sophisticated jamming systems fitted to every British aircraft.

The insurgents have now resorted to the tactic of using AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) that was highly successful during Soviet occupation and are actively seeking to buy the weapons.

Using a twin barrelled 14.5mm cannons mounted on the back of a truck the Taliban would easily be able to destroy one of the eight slow moving Chinook helicopters operating in Afghanistan.

An operational helicopter commander said "any British helicopter" would be a high priority target for them, but "a Chinook would be a great coup, a bonanza."

Apache attack helicopters always escort every Chinook flight as a further layer of security. (ANI)