US Air Force,
SOUTHWEST ASIA: US Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summaries for Sept. 3 to 5.
Sept. 3
In Afghanistan Sept. 2, Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters provided close-air support for search and recovery missions responding to the crash of a Royal Air Force Nimrod aircraft assigned to support the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, near Kandahar.
Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts, Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s and French Air Force M-2000s conducted a precision strike against a Taliban location near Kandahar. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and Guided Bomb Unit-12s. The GR-7s also conducted passes, expending rockets and a 500-pound, general purpose bomb, while the M-2000s expended a GBU-12. The expenditures destroyed the target.
A-10s and a B-1 Lancer 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 GBU-12 on the extremists' locations and mortar positions. The B-1 also expended GBU-31s on extremist positions, ending the engagement.
A-10s and RAF GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds. The GR-7s also conducted passes, expending rockets. The expenditures destroyed the extremist positions, ending the engagement.
A-10s also provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Khowst.
Additionally, six Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 36 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 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 Al Hillah and Baghdad.
Royal Air Force Tornado GR-4s also provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad.
Additionally, 12 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 42 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 Globemasters provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 170 airlift sorties, delivered 440 tons of cargo and transported 4,800 passengers. This included more than 28,650 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews from Canada and Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF.
On Sept. 1, U.S., French and RAF tankers flew 36 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel.
Sept. 4
In Afghanistan Sept. 3, A-10s and a B-1 provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The B-1 expended GBU-31s and -38s. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds, GBU-12s and general-purpose 500-pound bombs. Expenditures focused on multiple extremists' locations, ending the engagement.
In a separate engagement near Kandahar, A-10s, a B-1, a Predator UAV, Navy FA-18E/F Hornets and RAF GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds, GBU-12s and general-purpose 500-pound bombs. The B-1 expended a GBU-31 and GBU-38s. The UAV fired a Hellfire missile. The FA-18E/Fs expended GBU-12s and -38s and the GR-7s expended enhanced Paveway IIs and 540-pound bombs. The expenditures focused on numerous Taliban locations, destroying the targets and ending the engagement.
In another engagement near Kandahar, A-10s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists. The aircraft expended GBU-12s and -38s on enemy positions.
A-10s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The aircraft expended a GBU-12 on a mortar position, ending the engagement. A B-1 also provided close-air support to coalition forces near Now Zad.
RAF GR-7s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The aircraft expended an enhanced Paveway II munition on an enemy location, ending the engagement. A-10s also provided close-air support near Musah Qal'eh.
Navy FA-18Cs provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Qalat. The aircraft expended a GBU-38 on an enemy position, ending the engagement.
Additionally, seven Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 36 close-air support missions in support of OEF. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
In Iraq, F-16s conducted a precision strike against anti-Iraqi forces near Baquba. The aircraft expended GBU-12s on enemy positions, achieving the desired results.
Additionally, 14 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq .
In total, coalition aircraft flew 33 close-air-support missions for OIF. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.
On Sept. 2, Air Force rescue and medical crews on HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters flew two medical evacuation missions in support of OEF. One coalition military member with injuries requiring urgent care was evacuated as a result of these missions.
C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 160 airlift sorties, delivered 420 tons of cargo and transported 3,200 passengers. This included almost 16,400d 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. 2, U.S., French and RAF tankers flew 40 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.
Sept. 5
In Afghanistan Sept. 4, A-10s and Navy F-18Cs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Kandahar. The A-10s expended GBU-12s, general-purpose 500-pound bombs and cannon rounds on enemy positions, ending the engagement.
Navy F-18s and RAF GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Musa Qal'eh. The GR-7s expended Enhanced Paveway II munitions and a general-purpose, 1,000-pound bomb on enemy positions, ending the engagement.
A B-1 and Navy F-18s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Tarin Kowt.
Additionally, five Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 38 close-air-support missions in support of OEF. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.
In Iraq, F-16s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad, and Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Najaf.
Additionally, 15 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.
In total, coalition aircraft flew 38 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.
C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 160 airlift sorties, delivered 500 tons of cargo and transported 4,170 passengers. This included more than 15,000 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in northeastern Afghanistan.
Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada and Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.
On Sept. 3, U.S., French and RAF tankers flew 41 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel.
