Airpower: F-15 Strike Eagles provide close-air support

SOUTHWEST ASIA: Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb unit-31s and a GBU-38 onto anti-Afghan forces engaging coalition forces in the vicinity of Nangalam. On-scene Joint Terminal Attack Controllers reported the mission success.

In the vicinity of Shkin, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II dropped a GBU-38 onto anti-Afghan forces who were in the open. Near Sheykhabad, an A-10 conducted a show of force to deter anti-Afghan activity. Mission success was confirmed by JTACs in the areas.

Navy F/A-18C Hornets dropped GBU-38s onto anti-Afghan forces near Qalat, while other F/A-18Cs performed shows of force to deter enemy activities near Shurakian and in the vicinity of Lashkar Gah. The JTACs reported the missions successful.

An A-10 conducted a show of force near Ghazni to deter enemy activities. The mission was confirmed a success by the JTAC.

In total, 70 close-air support missions were flown as part of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Fourteen Air Force surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, four Navy and Coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 42 close-air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Thirty Air Force, Navy and coalition ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, four Navy, and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

About 150 airlift sorties were flown; more than 400 tons of cargo delivered, and about 2,800 passengers were transported. This included nearly 207,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Oct. 10, Air Force and coalition aerial refueling crews flew 47 sorties and off-loaded about 3.3 million pounds of fuel to 248 receiving aircraft.