March 10 airpower summary

  • Published
Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations March 10 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Air Operations in Afghanistan:

Close-Air Support

Asadabad
Air Force MQ-1B Predator operators provided close air support to friendly forces.  The operators fired a missile against armed enemy forces to eliminate a threat to friendly forces. The threat to friendly forces was eliminated.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircrews provided armed overwatch for friendly convoys conducting ground operations. One convoy was ambushed by enemy forces using heavy weapons and aircrews were cleared to release precision-guided munitions to neutralize the threat to the convoy. The munitions successfully destroyed the enemy fighting positions.

Balocan
Air Force MQ-9A Reaper operators provided armed overwatch to friendly forces and conducted reconnaissance over their operations area. The operators observed suspicious personnel carrying weapons, and ground control troops confirmed they were enemy forces. The operators fired a missile against the enemy position to deter potential enemy aggression and destroy the enemy position. The target was destroyed and the engagement was declared successful by ground control.

Lashkar Gah
Air Force MQ-9A Reaper operators provided close air support for friendly forces and conducted reconnaissance over their operations area. The operators released a missile against enemy forces at the request of the ground commander. The target was destroyed and the engagement was declared successful.

Tarin Kowt
Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots made several cannon-fire strafing runs and launched precision-guided munitions to deter enemy forces small-arms fire. The position was destroyed and enemy fire stopped. The ground commander declared the actions successful.

Navy F/A-18C pilots also provided armed overwatch for friendly forces later. The pilots conducted a show of force to deter enemy aggression. The show of force, with flares launched, was deemed successful by ground control.

Orgun - E
Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots observed rocket fire and released precision-guided munitions against the enemy position, which eliminated the threat to friendly forces. They also released precision-guided weapons against enemy forces in a vehicle, ending a threat to friendly forces.

F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots observed suspicious activity at an traffic control point and conducted a show of force, with flares, to prevent an ambush against friendly forces, as well as a show of presence over the friendly-forces position to deter any potential enemy action. The shows of force and presence were declared successful when no enemy action was noted.

Gereshk
A-10 pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots conducted shows of force, with flares launched, to deter enemy fire directed against friendly forces. The shows of force were declared successful when no further enemy action was noted.

Shurakian
A-10 pilots provided close air support to friendly forces. The pilots conducted a show of force, with flares launched, to deter enemy fire directed against friendly forces. The show of force was declared successful when no further enemy action was noted.

Qal-E-Naw
An Air Force B-1B Lancer aircrew provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircrew conducted a show of force to deter enemy fire directed against friendly forces. The show of force was successful when no further enemy action was noted.

Konduz
F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for a friendly-forces convoy with disabled vehicles. The pilots conducted a show of force to deter enemy action. The show of force was deemed successful and met the ground commander's intent.

Gardez
F-15E aircrews provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots conducted shows of force to deter anti-Afghan forces in the area after a friendly-forces patrol discovered improvised-explosive devices. The shows of force were successful as no enemy action was noted.

Musa Qala
Coalition pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots conducted a show of force over an enemy compound to deter enemy action when friendly forces encountered enemy small-arms fire. The show of force was requested, instead of munitions, when children were observed in the compound.

Abchakan
F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots conducted a show of force, with flares launched, to deter enemy aggression during a humanitarian medical mission in a village. The show of force was successful as no enemy action as noted.


Airlift Action

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

Paktika Province
An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircrew flew a combat-resupply mission in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, airdropping approximately 60,000 pounds of 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: 79
Sorties flown to support Operation Iraqi Freedom: 22

Surveillance and Reconnaissance:
Sorties flown in Afghanistan: 39
Sorties flown in Iraq: 28

On March 9:

Air Mobility:
Air Force airlift sorties: 174
Short tons of delivered cargo: 1,036
Passengers: approximately 4,500
Airdropped cargo: approximately 120,000 pounds

Aerial Refueling:
Sorties flown: 48
Fuel delivered: approximately 3.1 million pounds
Aircraft refueled: 257

Personnel Recovery, Casualty Evacuation and Aero-medical Evacuations:
Casualty evacuation -- Air Force rescue Airmen transported 11 patients
Saves: 4
Assists: 7
Other: 0
Hero Flights: 0
Sorties flown to support OEF: 24
Sorties flown to support OIF: 0