US Airpower Summary, Dec 15, 2009

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 15, 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations, Dec. 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials.

Air Operations in Afghanistan:

Kabul
Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft provided armed overwatch for a friendly forces convoy and dismounted patrol. A request for a show of force was made to deter potential enemy action. The show of force was performed, with flares expended, and was considered successful when no enemy action was noted.

Morghab
Air Force B-1B Lancer aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces assisting an Afghan national police patrol. The patrol reported being hit by enemy fire and a show of force was requested to deter the enemy aggression. The show of force was successful and stopped the enemy fire. A second show of force was requested to deter any further enemy action while finishing the patrol route. The show of force was considered successful as no further enemy action was noted.

Konduz
F-15E aircraft flew armed overwatch and area surveillance for friendly forces. The aircraft was requested to perform a show of force for the friendly forces. When performed, the show of force was considered successful.

Later, F-15E aircraft again flew armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircraft was requested to perform shows of force for the friendly forces. When performed, the shows of force were considered successful.

F-15E aircraft provided armed overwatch for a friendly forces convoy. The convoy requested a show of force to deter any potential enemy action while enroute to its destination. The show of force was successful as no enemy action was noted.

Tarin Kowt
Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft provided armed overwatch a friendly forces convoy. The aircraft provided route reconnaissance for the convoy and then the friendly forces requested shows of force to deter any enemy activity. The shows of force were successful in deterring any potential enemy action as none was noted.

Lashkar Gah
Navy F/A-18C Hornet aircraft provided armed overwatch and reconnaissance for friendly forces. A show of force was requested over a known enemy fighting position to deter any potential enemy action. The show of force (with flares expended) was successful in deterring enemy action in the area as none was noted.

Gardez
Air Force F-16C aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. Shows of force were requested to deter possible enemy action during an infiltration operation. The shows of force were successful in deterring enemy action in the area.

Chahar Bagh
Coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch and reconnaissance for friendly forces. A show of force to deter any potential enemy action was requested. The show of force was successfully performed when no enemy action was noted.

Coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. When the friendly forces reported taking suspicious activity in and around a compound, a show of force to deter any further enemy action was requested. The show of force was successfully performed when no further enemy action was noted.

Sangin
Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft provided armed overwatch for coalition forces. The coalition forces reported receiving indiscriminant enemy fire from a compound in the area and requested a show of force to deter the enemy action. The show of force (with flares expended) was successful in deterring any further enemy action.
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Air Operations in Iraq:

No significant action to report in the last 24 hours.

Air Power Statistics:

Air Mobility:
U.S. Air Force airlift sorties: 163
Short tons of delivered cargo: 680
Passengers: nearly 3,700
Airdropped cargo: nearly 205,000 pounds

Close Air Support:
Sorties flown to support ISAF & Afghan security forces: 76
Sorties flown to support Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: 22

Surveillance & Reconnaissance:
Sorties flown in Afghanistan: 24
Sorties flown in Iraq: 28
Tactical reconnaissance sorties flown in Afghanistan: none
Tactical reconnaissance sorties flown in Iraq: 2 (USAF)

Medical Evacuation:
On Dec. 13, Air Force HH-60 aircrew and Pararescue Airmen transported 9 patients

Aerial Refueling:
Sorties flown: 38
Fuel delivered: nearly 2.1 million pounds
Aircraft refueled: 185

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