Sunday, December 28, 2008

US Airpower Summary; Dec. 28, 2008: F-15Es Provide Armed Aerial Overwatch

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An F-15E Strike Eagle soars over Afghanistan providing close-air support and armed aerial overwatch to deter enemy activities. The Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 28, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a guided bomb unit-31 and an A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped GBU-38s and general purpose 500-pound bombs onto anti-Afghan forces who where firing a high caliber machine gun against coalition forces in the vicinity of Nangalam. The missions were confirmed a success by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.

In the vicinity of Ghazni, Kabul and near Bagram, A-10s performed shows of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy conducting operations. In addition, an F-15E conducted a show of force to deter anti-Afghan activities in the area of Ghazni. The JTACs declared the missions successful.

An F-15E performed a show of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for an Afghan National Army unit responding to a district center under attack near Gardez. The mission was reported a success by a JTAC.

In the vicinity of Sangin and near Now Zad, coalition aircraft conducted shows of force to deter anti-Afghan activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition convoys traveling along a known enemy route. The JTACs confirmed the missions successful.

An F-15E performed a show of force expending flares and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition quick reaction force returning to Bagram after conducting operations in the vicinity of Mata Khan. The mission was declared a success by a JTAC.

In the vicinity of Qal E Naw, an F-15E conducted a show of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy conducting search operations. A JTAC reported the mission successful.

In total, 55 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Sixteen Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 43 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-nine Air Force, Navy and coalition ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, three Air Force and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 140 airlift sorties were flown, more than 620 tons of cargo were delivered and nearly 2,000 passengers were transported. This included approximately 21,000 pounds of troop re-supply that was air-dropped in Afghanistan.

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

On Dec. 26, Air Force and coalition tanker crews flew 39 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.9 million pounds of fuel to 250 receiving aircraft.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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