,
SOUTHWEST ASIA: US Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 30.
In Afghanistan Dec. 29, Royal Air Force GR-7s and U.S. Navy F/A-18Es provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The GR-7s expended general-purpose 500-pound bombs on enemy positions.
Navy F/A-18Cs and F/A-18Fs provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Lashkar Gah.
A B-1B Lancer and Navy F/A-18Es provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The B-1B expended a guided bomb unit-38 on an enemy position.
|
Click to Enlarge
F-15E Strike Eagles, similar to this one refueling over Iraq, play a critical role daily in providing close-air support to ground forces in contact with anti-Iraqi forces as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brian Ferguson)
More Military Pictures
|
In total, 53 close-air support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
Additionally, 10 Air Force and Royal Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Navy fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.
In Iraq, Royal Air Force GR-4s, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad. The GR-4s expended an Enhanced Paveway II munition on an enemy position.
Air Force F-16s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Hawijah and Tikrit.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 36 close-air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.
Additionally, 16 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.
Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew approximately 140 airlift sorties, delivered almost 490 tons of cargo and transported more than 2,040 passengers. This included more than 5,500 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in eastern Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada and Japan flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On Dec. 28, Air Force, Royal Air Force and French Air Force tankers flew 31 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.1 million pounds of fuel.
