CIA JAWBREAKER team used Soviet helicopter for first Afghanistan mission

On September 26, 2001, a seven-man CIA team code-named ‘JAWBREAKER’ landed in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley. This mission, occurring just 15 days after the September 11 attacks, served as the opening move in the United States' response to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

The team carried millions of dollars in cash to enlist and equip Afghan allies, specifically aiming to strengthen ties with the Northern Alliance following the assassination of its leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud.

The team utilized a Soviet-designed Mi-17 helicopter, which the CIA had acquired in the 1990s. The aircraft was chosen because its Russian origins allowed it to blend in with the equipment used by both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. The restored helicopter is currently on display at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.