US Airpower Summary, Jan. 25, 2010

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Jan. 25, 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations, Jan. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Air Operations in Afghanistan:

Lashkar Gah
Air Force MQ-1B Predator operators provided armed overwatch and force protection for friendly forces. The Predator operators observed an individual acting suspiciously. Ground forces confirmed the person was a suicide bomber with hostile intentions. Operators fired a missile against the enemy position and the threat to friendly forces was eliminated.

Air Force F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots were tasked to destroy a vehicle and a confirmed weapons cache to deter enemy activity. Several precision-guided munitions were released and successfully destroyed the intended targets.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircrews provided armed overwatch for a coalition forces patrol and friendly ground forces. The aircrews conducted shows of force to deter enemy action in the vicinity of ground forces. Both were declared successful when no further enemy action was noted.

Asadabad
Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircrews provided armed overwatch for coalition forces. An enemy fighting position was observed firing on coalition forces with a machine gun and the aircrews released precision-guided munitions against the enemy position, destroying the position and ending the enemy fire.

A B-1B Lancer aircrew provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircrew was directed to conduct a show of force to deter enemy action when friendly forces reported taking enemy fire. The show of force was considered a success when no further enemy aggression was noted.

Mushan
Air Force F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots destroyed an enemy weapons cache and an enemy vehicle with precision-guided munitions.

Surkhabad
Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots provided armed overwatch for coalition forces. The pilots conducted shows of force to deter a possible enemy attack. The shows of force, with flares launched, were considered successful when the enemy attack did not occur. Then the pilots provided armed overwatch of the area to deter any other enemy threats.

A-10 pilots provided armed reconnaissance for coalition forces. When coalition forces reported taking enemy small arms fire from a nearby compound, the pilots released a precision-guide munition and conducted a strafing run with cannon fire against the compound and the enemy fire ceased.

Konduz
Air Force F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces under imminent threat of an enemy attack. The pilots conducted shows of force to deter enemy fire on the friendly forces. The shows of force, one with flares launched, were deemed successful when the threat of attack was diffused.

F-15E aircrews provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircrews conducted shows of force, with flares launched, to deter anti-Afghan forces in the vicinity of friendly forces. The shows of force succeeded in preventing enemy action.

Remak
Coalition pilots conducted a show of force to deter possible enemy activity. The show of force was declared successful when the no enemy action was noted.

Air Operations in Iraq:

Baghdad
Air Force F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for a friendly-forces convoy stopped due to an improvised explosive device. The pilots conducted a show of force to deter enemy fire on the convoy and to help locate and capture the enemy IED triggerman. The show of force was deemed successful when no enemy action was reported.

Air Power Statistics:

Close Air Support:
Sorties flown to support ISAF & Afghan security forces: 65
Sorties flown to support Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: 18

Surveillance & Reconnaissance:
Sorties flown in Afghanistan: 30
Sorties flown in Iraq: 28
Tactical reconnaissance sorties flown in Afghanistan: NONE
Tactical reconnaissance sorties flown in Iraq: 2 (USAF)

On January 23
Medical Evacuation:
Air Force HH-60 aircrews and Pararescue Airmen transported 2 patients

Aerial Refueling:
Sorties flown: 45
Fuel delivered: nearly 2.5 million pounds
Aircraft refueled: 212

Air Mobility:
U.S. Air Force airlift sorties: 165
Short tons of delivered cargo: 978
Passengers: nearly 4,100
Airdropped cargo: nearly 155,000 pounds

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