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Airpower Summary for March 1

  • Published
  • Combined Air and Space Operations Center
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Coalition airpower integrated with Coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations Mar. 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped a Guided Bomb Unit-31 and Guided Bomb Unit-38s onto enemy combatants in a trench and an enemy compound in the vicinity of Sangin. The Joint Terminal Attack Controller declared the mission a success.
In Garmsir, Royal Air Force GR.7 Harriers fired rockets and dropped an enhanced paveway II munition onto enemy combatant positions.
Furthermore, a French Air Force Mirage-2000 dropped a GBU-12 onto an enemy bunker in the same area. The missions were reported as successful by the JTAC.

Mirage-2000s conducted shows of force in the vicinity of Lwara to deter enemy activities against Coalition Forces. The JTAC confirmed the missions as successful.

In Nangalam, B-1Bs dropped GBU-31s and GBU-38s onto enemy fighting positions. The mission was declared a success by the JTAC.

An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle performed shows of force in Nangalam and Lwara in order to deter enemy activities against Coalition Forces. The JTAC reported the missions successful.

In Gereshk, a GR.7 conducted a show of force in order to cover Coalition Forces movement into an urban area. The mission was confirmed as successful by the JTAC.
In total, 41 close air support missions were flown as part of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Eight Air Force surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, two Royal Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, a show of force was conducted by an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon in the vicinity of Mosul. The show of force was performed in order to deter enemy activities against Coalition Forces in the area.
The JTAC declared the mission a success.

In total, Coalition aircraft flew 45 close air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized Coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided over watch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Twenty-five Air Force, Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq.
Additionally, four Air Force and Royal Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

U.S. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 169 airlift sorties were flown; 643 tons of cargo delivered, and 3,307 passengers were transported. This included approximately 8,400 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Iraq, and Japan flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Feb. 29, U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 41 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.9 million pounds of fuel to 256 receiving aircraft.