AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- U.S. Air Forces Central Command published its February Airpower Summary today.
In support of NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, Airmen in Train Advise Assist Command-Air continued working with Afghan partners to develop a professional, capable, and sustainable air force. In support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Airmen delivered airpower to enable the enduring defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. U.S. and Coalition Airmen sustained support to partner ground forces that reduced what was once 20,000 square miles of ISIS-controlled land to less than half of a square kilometer.
Partner support also occurred in the broader CENTCOM area of responsibility as Airmen and Joint Coalition partners worked together to conduct a Joint Air Defense Exercise focused on increasing the readiness of air defense assets. The AFCENT-led exercise increased live-fly participation from previous years and included B-1B Lancers, F-15E Strike Eagles and Coalition partner aircraft. The exercise also tested Joint Coalition partners in all domains through robust table-top scenarios. The combined team practiced real-world tactics, techniques and procedures to address missile, aircraft and small unmanned aerial system threats.
“The air component is fully committed to winning the current fight while maintaining a credible, capable and dynamic defense posture to deter and win against state and non-state actors,” said Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, Combined Forces Air Component Commander.
“We best achieve today’s war-winning airpower by operating, practicing and improving alongside our Joint Coalition partners.”
The airpower summary is online at the following link: February 2019
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan
In February, Afghanistan’s Minister of Defense visited Afghan airmen, calling the Afghan Air Force “the heart of security and defense forces” in the country. On Feb. 28, the country celebrated Afghan National Defense and Security Forces Day, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for Afghanistan and those Afghans currently serving in the ANDSF.
Airmen from TAAC-A congratulated the latest class of Afghan Air Force Blackhawk helicopter pilots, who graduated mission qualification training on Feb. 6.
In addition to assisting Afghan Air Force development, the air component flew 1,256 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties, 518 strike sorties and released 327 weapons in Afghanistan.
Airlifters flew 840 sorties transporting 11,206 personnel, 5,876 short tons of cargo and performed one airdrop. Throughout the month, tanker aircraft delivered nine million pounds of fuel, flying 231 sorties with 1,105 aerial refuelings.
Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria
U.S. and Coalition pilots flew 1,222 strike sorties, 919 ISR sorties and released 607 weapons in support of Joint Coalition and partner ground forces’ ISIS clearance operations in February. While the air component remained responsive to supporting CJTF-OIR throughout its entire area of operations, weapon employment decreased from levels in January as ground forces advanced methodically to liberate the last of ISIS-held land in Syria and defeat the remnants of the so-called caliphate.
During this time, tanker aircraft flew 675 sorties, delivering 52 million pounds of fuel through 4,465 aerial refuelings. C-130 and C-17 airlifters transported 4,170 passengers and 2,366 short tons of cargo in Iraq and Syria through 529 sorties. 52,250 pounds of supplies were also delivered across five airdrops in the area of operations.
Coalition Aviation Advisory Training Team Airmen also continued working with their Iraqi Air Enterprise counterparts.
“Coalition air advisors are here at the request of the Government of Iraq to assist in developing essential Iraqi airpower skills. We continue to work by, with and through our partners in the Iraqi Air Enterprise to create sustainable, Iraqi-customized training programs to strengthen sovereign airpower," said Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, CJTF-OIR Director of Air Operations. "Our air advisors are focusing on the vital integration of Iraqi Air Enterprise capabilities to help the Iraqi Security Forces deliver joint effects toward the lasting defeat of Daesh in Iraq.”