US Airpower Summary, July 13, 2009: B-1B Deters Enemy

Air Force B-1B Lancers are one of the aircraft joint terminal attack controllers often request for close-air support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 13, 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Near Badikhel, an Air Force B-1B Lancer released flares in a show of force to deter further enemy action against friendly forces.

At Lashkar Gah, an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper dropped a guided bomb unit-12 on an enemy position and destroyed it. The enemy position contained potential supplies for fabrication of improvised explosive devices.

Several Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs at Asadabad rolled in to provide cover for friendly forces taking small arms fire. They destroyed numerous enemy fighting positions prior to a scheduled friendly convoy passing through the area. GBU-38's were used to complete the mission.

Asadabad saw several A-10s execute a show of force in the vicinity of a coalition convoy that was taking automatic weapons and rocket-propelled gernade fire. The enemy shooters ceased fire and withdrew after the aircraft arrived on scene.

After friendly forces started taking small arms fire near Ghazni, an A-10 carried out shows of force over suspected enemy positions. Ground personnel reported that the shooting stopped following the demonstration of airpower.

An A-10 flying over Asmar strafed an enemy position when friendly forces came under small arms fire. The enemy fire ceased immediately.

Konduz also saw action as an A-10 flew a show of force expending numerous flares to stop enemy small arms fire on coalition forces.

In the vicinity of Asadabad, A-10s destroyed an enemy imminent threat using strafing runs to quiet small arms fire on friendly forces.

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

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

In total, 76 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 22 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-two Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq.

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 133 airlift sorties were flown, 853 tons of cargo were delivered and about 3,116 passengers were transported. This included about 145,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

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

On July 11, Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported 13 patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue team members aboard 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 tanker crews flew 55 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.1 million pounds of fuel to 250 receiving aircraft.

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

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