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CSAF talks Air Coalition Ops during CENTCOM region visit

  • Published
  • By Kiley Dougherty
  • AFCENT Public Affairs
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein visited the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility recently to get a sense of not only how the campaign is going as a member of the joint chiefs, but to also get an understanding of how he can better support Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and coalition partners regarding the impact on the service today.

To date, the Air Coalition has flown over 107,500 sorties and participated in more than 14,400 strikes in Iraq and Syria since operations began in August 2014. In addition, over 800 sorties and more than 140 strikes were conducted in Afghanistan since June 2016.

The U.S. Air Force has played a significant role as part of the 20-nation Air Coalition. Airmen’s ability to evolve and be innovative remains a key component to the joint fight as the Air Coalition continues to adapt while using legacy systems in different ways, Goldfein explained.

Since their first sortie in April, the B-52 has flown nearly 270 sorties, employing in excess of 1,300 weapons during more than 325 strikes in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. In addition, the B-52 recently flew two sorties in Afghanistan employing 27 weapons in two strikes in support of counterterrorism operations.

“We got the B-52 back in the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Goldfein. “We have the B-52 contributing to a significant ground effort and employing weapons in close proximity of friendly troops who are under attack, who are preparing the battlefield in new ways.”

An integral part of the strike process is the success achieved by indigenous ground forces. However, with limited coalition forces on the ground, it drove innovation as a coalition. Innovation in thought led to new tactics and advancements in doctrine.

In this campaign, real time video now feeds information to Joint Tactical Air Controllers who work in various strike cells coordinating with aircraft to execute procedures to employ airpower. JTACs and strike aircraft confirm targets and look to minimize the time required to help those in need.

“We are going to fly to the sounds of the guns or we are going to die trying,” said Goldfein. “Whether you are a Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman JTAC on the ground, if you call for air, we will be there. We will throw everything we have at it and you can always count on us to deliver.”

The flexibility of coalition airpower continues to enable forces on the ground to fight Da’esh, shaping the battlefield and further degrading their combat capability to a point where their ability to sustain themselves has been significantly degraded. The Air Coalition is working to maximize the capability it offers.

“This is not about coalition partners following an American effort,” said Goldfein. “It’s about Americans being part of … an effective coalition that brings the best capabilities of each coalition partner to the campaign.”

Momentum is occurring as airpower is effectively shaping the battlespace. In late June, Da’esh exfiltrated Iraq in multiple large convoys of up to 120 vehicles. Over the course of the two days, the linking of capabilities enabled the U.S. and international aircraft to destroy an estimate of 175 suspected Da’esh vehicles, resulting in Iraqi forces declaring the city of Fallujah fully liberated.

Operating in the AOR for 24-years, the Air Coalition today has more than 750 coalition aircraft assigned throughout the AOR that could be called upon for operations at any time to support OIR, Resolute Support, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and as needed in theater.

Goldfein describes airpower as the oxygen the joint force breathes.

“Have it and you don’t even think about it. Don’t have it, and it’s all you think about,” Goldfein said.