April 22 airpower summary: F-15 drops bomb on target Published April 23, 2008 SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a guided bomb unit-31 onto a cave opening in the vicinity of Bari Kowt. The strike was conducted in order to deny enemy combatants who were firing onto coalition forces use of the cave. The mission was declared successful by the on-scene joint terminal attack controller. A show of force was performed by a French air force Mirage-2000 in Now Zad. The show of force was performed to deter enemy activities in the area. A JTAC reported the mission as a success. In total, 43 close-air-support missions were flown as part of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Nine Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, two Royal Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance. In Iraq, an Air Force MQ-1B Predator fired hellfire missiles onto an enemy vehicle and a weapons cache near Baghdad. The mission was confirmed as successful by a JTAC. In total, coalition aircraft flew 66 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Twenty-one Air Force and Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, eight Air Force, Navy, and RAF aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. Approximately 139 airlift sorties were flown, 579 tons of cargo delivered and 3,790 passengers were transported. This included approximately 23,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Iraq, Japan, and Korea flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq. On April 21, Air Force and RAF tanker crews flew 53 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.4 million pounds of fuel to 278 receiving aircraft.