US Air Force,
SOUTHWEST ASIA: U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 6.
In Afghanistan Sept. 5, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, Navy FA-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds, general-purpose 500-pound bombs and a Guided Bomb Unit-12. F-18s expended a GBU-12 on enemy positions, ending the engagement.
A-10s and French Air Force M-2000s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Asadabad. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and ending the engagement.
An Air Force B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Orgun-E. The B-1 expended GBU-31s on enemy rocket positions, ending the engagement.
In another engagement, FA-18s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The F-18s expended GBU-12s on enemy positions, ending the engagement.
An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Kandahar. The UAV fired a Hellfire missile on an enemy position, ending the engagement.
Navy F-18s and RAF GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Tarin Kowt.
The following close air support requests supported NATO forces operating as the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan.
A-10s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Kandahar. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds, GBU-12s and general-purpose 500-pound bombs on enemy locations, ending the engagement.
RAF GR-7s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Kandahar. The GR-7s expended a general-purpose 540-pound bomb on an enemy location, ending the engagement.
F-18s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The F-18s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds on enemy positions, ending the engagement.
United States Navy F-18Cs and Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The F-18s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds, GBU-12s and -38s on enemy locations, ending the engagement. A B-1 and RAF GR-7s also provided close-air support to NATO forces near Musah Qal'eh.
A B-1 also provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Tarin Kowt.
Additionally, five Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 38 close-air-support missions in support of either OEF or ISAF. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Balad and Tikrit.
Additionally, 13 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 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.
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 170 airlift sorties, delivered 300 tons of cargo and transported 4,300 passengers. This included more than 14,175 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews from Australia and Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On Sept. 4, U.S., French and RAF tankers flew 39 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.
