Where do I start .
1.The Griffin in the Sandbox, while some are correct in stating that it could not fly over there but only half right, the problem is that is definitely could not fly in Kabul, altitude and heat are against it, Kandahar is lower in altitude though not in heat.
2. Close Air Support, that is likely the role it could fulfill over there, troop lift, never going to happen, the A/C does not have the power in its current configuration, when I talk about config a I am talking about the mast itself. ( the blades attach to the head, the head is mounted on the mast, the mast is what translates all the energy developed by the engines. simplified version)
The Chinooks will need support, hence we outfit the Griffion with guns and the Chinooks will have a flying Buddy to suppress those on the ground that don't wish to see it landing at all with 40 odd troops or artillery slung below or any of the other myriad of possible variations that it would be employed in.
The Griffin could fly in the south, some restrictions obviously, the only armour would be the seat, anything else and it will not work, also the A/C will also need to go on a diet of sorts, any and all useless equipment will not be tolerated (not that the Giffion purchase should have ever been, strictly politics) the big factor in all of this of course will be what configuration of door guns ammo load and crew can fly and accomplish the job. you don't need an F.E. on board to fire a door gun period. In the civilian world he has been replaced with a simple mirror on the skids that the pilot can see through the chin bubble, his bloated carcasses weight would be better utilized in more ammo. If the new gun is used it will weigh more and the amount of ammo carried will significantly increase ( I am speculating on that no real figures on this)
The biggest question on all of this will be, if and when they send the Griffin, because the Chinooks are coming, they just announced six used ones from the U.S. as reported n Janes Defence weekly (22 Mar 08...
http://jdw.janes.com/public/jdw/index.shtmlcom/public/jdw/index.shtml)... we will see what happens real soon I am sure.