An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

CENTAF releases airpower summary, space support requests for Sept. 7

  • Published
  • By CENTAF public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have announced the airpower summary and space support requests for Sept. 7.

In Afghanistan Sept. 6, Air Force B-1 Lancers provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asadabad. One aircraft expended a Guided Bomb Unit-38 on an enemy position, ending the engagement.

An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. Navy F-18 Hornets also provided close-air support in the area.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Qalat. Navy F-18s also provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Khowst.

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

Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s conducted a precision strike against Taliban locations near Kandahar. The GR-7s expended an enhanced Paveway II munition and a general-purpose 540-pound bomb on the locations, destroying the target.

A B-1 provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Now Zad. The B-1 expended a GBU-38 on an enemy mortar position, destroying the target and ending the engagement.

RAF GR-7s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Kandahar. The GR-7s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and a general-purpose 1,000-pound bomb on an enemy location, ending the engagement.

A-10s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s expended GBU-12s on enemy positions, ending the engagement. B-1s also provided close-air support to coalition forces near Musah Qal'eh.

Navy F-18s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Deh Rawood. The F-18s expended a GBU-12 on an enemy location, ending the engagement.

Navy F-18s and RAF GR-7s provided close-air support to NATO forces near Musah Qal'eh. The F-18s expended GBU-12s on enemy locations, ending the engagement.

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

In total, coalition aircraft flew 39 close-air support missions in support of OEF. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Hawijah.

Navy F-18s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Iskandariyah and Baquba.

Additionally, 13 Air Force, Navy and Royal Australian Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 39 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. 5, an Air Force rescue and medical crew on a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter flew one medical evacuation mission in support of OEF. One Afghan National Army member with injuries requiring urgent care was evacuated as a result of this mission.

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. They flew 150 airlift sorties, delivered 580 tons of cargo and transported 3,360 passengers were transported. This included more than 15,400 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.

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

On Sept. 5, U.S., French and RAF tankers flew 41 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.

During the month of August, 13 Space Support Requests, or SSRs, were supported for OIF, delivering 72 specific effects.

For OEF, 8 SSRs were serviced, delivering 101 specific effects.

One of the SSRs in August required analysis of potential commercial space applications that could be used to support the new governments of Iraq and Afghanistan. Reaching back to U.S. national space experts, theater space personnel and coalition planners evaluated capabilities that included precision navigation and timing applications, satellite communications and space-based imagery.

These capabilities are commercially accessible and numerous applications are available at reasonable or no cost, which could potentially help Iraqi and Afghan leaders build prosperity and security.

Air Force and coalition forces continued to use space capabilities provided by the National Reconnaissance Office for imagery and signals intelligence. NRO satellites continue to provide critical information and situation awareness to battlefield commanders.

These systems, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, provided a number of mission critical capabilities that ranged from providing threat warning for military fielded forces to helping track and target insurgents. ISR satellite systems complement airborne ISR platforms such as Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles and U-2s to successfully support the prosecution of military security operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.