April 6 airpower summary

  • Published
Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 6 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Air Operations in Afghanistan

Close-Air Support

Lashkar Gah
Air Force MQ-9A Reaper operators provided armed overwatch for several operations. Insurgents were observed emplacing an improvised explosive device in a road and a missile was released against the enemy position. The action eliminated a threat to friendly forces and civilians in the area.

Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet aircrews conducted a show of force that was declared successful by ground control.

Asadabad
Air Force F-15-E Strike Eagle aircrews provided armed overwatch for friendly forces and reconnaissance for a friendly-forces convoy. When enemy fire was reported, several precision-guided munitions were released against enemy fighting positions, which successfully suppressed the enemy fire.

Chahar Bagh
Coalition aircrews provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircrews observed enemy forces firing against friendly forces and, at the direction of friendly ground forces, fired a missile against the enemy fighting position. The engagement eliminated the threat to the friendly forces.

Navy F/A-18C Hornet pilots conducted a show of force that was declared successful by ground controllers.

Bagram
F-15E aircrews provided armed overwatch of friendly forces. The aircrews conducted a show of force, with flares launched, which was determined successful by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.

Morghab
An Air Force B-1B Lancer and F-15E aircrews, along with F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircrews initially conducted shows of force, some with flares launched, over multiple enemy fighting positions firing against friendly forces. As confirmed coordinates for the enemy positions were passed to the aircraft, precision-guided munitions were employed against enemy positions in order to suppress enemy fire. The F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for a humanitarian-assistance convoy and conducted a show of force to deter potential enemy action while enroute to their assigned village.

Tirgari
F-15E aircrews provided armed overwatch for a friendly-forces patrol. The aircrews released several precision-guided munitions against a known enemy fighting positions and destroyed an enemy mortar site.

Remak
Coalition aircrews conducted a show of force that was declared successful.

Parmakan
F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for a friendly-forces patrol and conducted a show of force to break contact with hostile enemy forces, which was declared successful by ground commanders.

Konduz
F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for a friendly-forces patrol. The pilots conducted a show of force to deter enemy action in the vicinity of the friendly patrol as it approached a known enemy compound. The show of force was declared successful by ground forces.

Airlift Action

Farah Province
An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircrew flew combat-resupply missions in Farah Province, Afghanistan, airdropping 60,000 pounds of combat-sustainment supplies to friendly forces.

Helmand Province
C-17s and C-130 Hercules aircrews flew combat-resupply missions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, airdropping 60,000 pounds of supplies on one drop zone, 60,000 pounds on a different drop zone and 24,000 pounds on a third drop zone.

Oruzgan Province
C-130 aircrews flew combat-resupply missions in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, airdropping 35,000 pounds of combat-sustainment supplies to friendly forces.

Zabul Province
C-130 aircrews flew combat airdrop missions in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, delivering approximately 35,000 pounds of sustainment supplies to friendly forces.

Air Operations in Iraq:

Nothing significant to report today.

Airpower Statistics:

Close-Air Support:
Sorties flown to support ISAF and Afghan security forces: 78
Sorties flown to support Operation Iraqi Freedom: 20

Surveillance and Reconnaissance:
Sorties flown in Afghanistan: 43
Sorties flown in Iraq: 22

On April 5:

Air Mobility:
Air Force airlift sorties: 204
Short tons of delivered cargo: 782
Passengers: approximately 4,200
Airdropped cargo: approximately 275,000 pounds

Aerial Refueling:
Sorties flown: 47
Fuel delivered: approximately 3.4 million pounds
Aircraft refueled: 248

Personnel Recovery, Casualty Evacuation and Aero-medical Evacuations:
Casualty evacuation -- Air Force rescue Airmen transported 16 patients
Saves: 7
Assists: 9
Other: 0
Hero Flights: 0
Sorties flown to support OEF: 39
Sorties flown to support OIF: 0