US Air Force,
SOUTHWEST ASIA: US Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 9.
In Afghanistan Sept. 8, Navy FA-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Kandahar . The FA-18s expended guided bomb unit-12s on enemy locations. The GR-7s conducted passes, expending rockets and an enhanced Paveway II munition, ending the engagement. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs also provided close-air support in the area.
Air Force A-10s and U.S. Navy FA-18s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Asadabad. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and a general-purpose 500-pound bomb, ending the engagement.
Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Khowst.
United States Navy FA-18s provided close-air support to coalition forces in contact with Taliban extremists near Gardez.
The following close air support requests supported NATO forces operating as the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan.
Navy FA-18s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Kandahar. The aircraft expended GBU-12s and a GBU-38 on enemy locations, ending the engagement. Royal Air Force GR-7s also provided close air support in the vicinity.
An Air Force B-1B Lancer and Navy FA-18s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Musah Qal'eh. The B-1B expended a GBU-38 and the FA-18s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds at enemy positions, ending the engagement.
In a separate engagement near Musah Qal'eh, Navy FA-18s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists, expending GBU-38s on enemy positions. In another engagement in the area, Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists, expending rockets on enemy positions. United States Air Force A-10s also provided close air support in the vicinity.
Navy FA-18s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Now Zad. The aircraft expended a GBU-12 on an enemy location, ending the engagement. Royal Air Force GR-7s also provided close-air support for ISAF troops near Now Zad.
Additionally, five Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air-support missions in support of either OEF or ISAF. These missions included support to coalition, Afghan and ISAF 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 in the vicinity of Mosul.
Additionally, 12 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 40 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. Approximately 160 airlift sorties were flown; more than 620 tons of cargo were delivered, and some 3,380 passengers were transported. This included more than 67,400 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in eastern Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On September 7, Air Force, Royal Air Force and French tankers flew 44 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.5 million pounds of fuel.
