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CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 8

  • Published
  • By CENTAF public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 8.

In Afghanistan Sept. 7, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and ending the engagement.

In a separate engagement near Kandahar, Air Force A-10s and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support to coalition forces in contact with Taliban extremists. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and a guided bomb unit-12. The GR-7s also conducted passes, expending rockets and ending the engagement.

The following close-air support requests supported NATO forces operating as the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan.

An Air Force B-1B Lancer provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Musah Qal'eh. The B-1B expended a GBU-38 on an enemy mortar position, ending the engagement. Navy FA-18 Hornets also provided close-air support in the area.

Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Kandahar. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds, GBU-12s and general-purpose 500-pound bombs on enemy positions, ending the engagement.

Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds, GBU-12s and general-purpose 500-pound bombs on enemy positions, ending the engagement.

In a separate engagement near Kandahar, Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces. The GR-7s expended general-purpose 540-pound bombs, ending the engagement.

Air Force A-10s also provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces in the vicinity of Now Zad.

Additionally, five Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 35 close-air-support missions in support of either OEF or ISAF. These missions included support to coalition, Afghan and ISAF troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Baghdad. The F-16s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds on an enemy vehicle, destroying the vehicle and ending the engagement.

Air Force F-16s also provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Al Hawijah.

Navy F-18s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces in the vicinity of Al Mahmudiyah.

Royal Air Force GR-4s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces in the vicinity of Basrah.

Additionally, 13 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force 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.

On Sept. 6, Air Force rescue and medical crews on HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters flew two medical evacuation missions in support of OEF. Thirteen coalition military members and one local national patient with injuries requiring urgent care were evacuated as a result of these missions.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. Approximately 150 airlift sorties were flown; more than 660 tons of cargo were delivered, and some 5,120 passengers were transported. This included more than 12,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in eastern Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.

On Sept. 6, Air Force, Royal Air Force and French tankers flew 40 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel.