US Airpower Summary, June 26, 2009: A-10s Target Anti-Afghan Forces

A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provide close-air support to ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The A-10's excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude and its highly accurate weapons delivery make it an ideal aircraft for supporting coalition operations. (U.S Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 26, 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs strafed anti-Afghan forces personnel in a Surkhabad orchard with their 30 mm cannons. The enemy had opened fire on an Afghan and coalition ground unit with rocket-propelled grenades.

In the vicinity of Lashkar Gah, a coalition aircraft and a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet employed guided bomb unit-12 and -38 munitions to target enemy forces engaging Afghan and coalition military personnel. The strikes destroyed enemy fighting positions in a compound and in a tree line, ending RPG and automatic weapons fire coming from those spots. Later, a coalition aircraft flew a show of force over a friendly convoy to prevent it from being attacked.

A Navy F/A-18C Hornet dropped a GBU-12 against a hostile fighting position in Sangin after coalition personnel detected an enemy group there armed with RPGs, assault weapons and a recoilless rifle preparing to attack. The strike destroyed the position and prevented the enemy attack from taking place.

Near Tarin Kowt, an F/A-18C employed GBU-38s against the entrance of a cave when anti-Afghan gunmen using it for a natural bunker started firing from it. The bomb closed the cave and eliminated the hostile position's threat to Afghan security force personnel. In a separate engagement in the same area, an Air Force B-1B Lancer and an F/A-18E conducted shows of force preventing an enemy attack after a group of anti-Afghan forces was spotted readying for an ambush.

In Landar, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle conducted a show of force during coalition ground operations. The maneuver provided additional presence and made it more difficult for enemy units to create conflict.

An additional F-15E flew a show of force to deter anti-Afghan forces activity near Qal-E-Naw. The aircraft remained in the area providing top cover for friendly ground troops.

An A-10 carried out a show of force in the vicinity of Tirgari and performed tactical reconnaissance in order to protect a friendly convoy after one of the vehicles was hit by a roadside bomb. The unit was able to regroup and move on safely.

Joint terminal attack controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions.

In total, 73 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

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

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 24 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-four Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. In addition, two Air Force 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 150 airlift sorties were flown, 400 tons of cargo were delivered and about 3,000 passengers were transported. This included about 71,600 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

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

On June 24, Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported six patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue team members located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield. The HH-60G transported these patients to field hospitals in less time than it takes for a civilian patient to reach emergency care by ambulance in most major cities.

Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 55 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.0 million pounds of fuel to 253 receiving aircraft.

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

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