Airpower Summary for June 6

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

06.08.2009

Courtesy Story

United States Air Forces Central     

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SOUTHWEST ASIA — Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations June 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18C Hornet conducted strafes against an anti-Afghan force in dug in positions along a tree line in Musa Qala. The enemy personnel had been shooting at a friendly unit. The aircraft also conducted a show of force, dispersing a group of personnel in a nearby encampment which may have served as a field command post.

Near Asadabad, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles carried out strikes using guided bomb unit-31s against anti-Afghan forces in a cave complex armed with assault weapons and rocket propelled grenades. The strikes destroyed the caves, sealing enemy gunmen not killed by the strikes inside the collapsed tunnels.

A Strike Eagle near Morghab performed a warning strafe of a treeline and conducted a show of force against a group of anti-Afghan forces positioned there. Personnel in that site had launched a rocket attack against a coalition forward base.

In the area near Gardez, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flew a show of force when anti-Afghan forces detonated a roadside bomb and started firing at and shelling an Afghan convoy from a nearby ridgeline. The show of force, emphasized with the expenditure of flares, stopped enemy fire so the convoy could move on to safety.

A Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet flew a show of force over Lashkar Gah after an improvised explosive device damaged a friendly vehicle. The maneuver provided deterrence against enemy escalation and added security presence to the Afghan national police forces defending the area.

In Qalat, another Super Hornet flew a show of force and expended flares over an enemy firing position to suppress hostile fire. The aircraft performed the maneuver after an Afghan convoy took small arms fire from the location.

A coalition aircraft flew a show of force in Morghab to deter enemy activity. The aircraft expended flares as an additional deterrent.

Coalition forces investigating an improvised explosive device requested a show of force to disperse enemy personnel. Enemy forces ran away once the aircraft arrived.

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions.

In total, 75 close air support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Nineteen Air Force surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. In addition, four Navy and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 13 close air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities, and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Twenty-three Air Force and Navy surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. In addition, two 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 140 airlift sorties were flown; 450 tons of cargo was delivered; and about 2,750 passengers were transported. This included about 37,400 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Jun 5, U.S. Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 37 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.3 million pounds of fuel to 131 receiving aircraft.