Feb. 18 airpower summary

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Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Feb. 18 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 and reconnaissance for friendly ground forces. Operators observed enemy personnel firing on friendly forces from a bunker and a compound. Operators employed a precision guided munition and a missile on the enemy positions terminating enemy fire and destroying the enemy fighting positions.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots provided close air support for a friendly forces convoy. When enemy sniper fire pinned down the convoy, pilots confirmed the point of origin for the sniper fire and made cannon-fire strafing runs against the enemy position, destroying the location and ending the sniper fire. The convoy was able to continue.

Tarin Kowt
U.S. Air Force MQ-1B Predator operators provided armed overwatch and reconnaissance for friendly ground forces. The operators assisted helicopters in engaging enemy forces. Then operators engaged enemy personnel with a missile eliminating a threat to friendly forces.

Surkhabad
Coalition aircrews provided armed overwatch and reconnaissance for friendly ground forces. The aircrews released a precision-guided munition on an enemy firing point to neutralize an immediate threat to friendly forces.

Jalalabad
Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircrews provided armed overwatch for a friendly forces ground patrol. The aircrews conducted shows of force and presence to deter anti-Afghan forces activity and to reassure troops they were still in the area. Later, aircrews provided armed overwatch for a convoy. Both actions were declared successful by ground control.

Moqor
Coalition pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. Pilots conducted a show of force to keep convoy routes open. They were declared successful when no enemy action was noted.

Asadabad
Air Force F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots received coordinates for an enemy ambush position and released precision guided munitions to eliminate an imminent threat to friendly forces.

F-16C pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces infiltrating via helicopter. Pilots conducted a show of force for friendly forces patrol setting up a base camp. Pilots later provided armed overwatch of a helicopter infiltration operation.

Qalat
Coalition aircrews provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The aircrews conducted shows of force to deter any action when enemy forces approached friendly forces. They were declared successful when no enemy action was noted.

Airlift Action:

Oruzgan Province
An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircrew flew a combat-resupply mission in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, airdropping approximately 71,000 pounds of supplies to friendly forces.

Helmand Province
A C-17 aircrew flew a combat-resupply mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, airdropping approximately 42,000 pounds of supplies to friendly forces.

Air Operations in Iraq:

Close Air Support:
There was no significant action to report today.

Airlift Action

Iraq
A C-130 aircrew distributed informational leaflets via airdrop to locations across Iraq.

Air Power Statistics:

Close Air Support:
Sorties flown to support ISAF and Afghan security forces: 83
Sorties flown to support Operation Iraqi Freedom: 20

Surveillance and Reconnaissance:
Sorties flown in Afghanistan: 33
Sorties flown in Iraq: 30



Medical Evacuation:
On Feb. 17, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk aircrews and pararescue Airmen transported 15 patients

Aerial Refueling:
Sorties flown: 40
Fuel delivered: approximately 2.8 million pounds
Aircraft refueled: 219

Air Mobility:
U.S. Air Force airlift sorties: 155
Short tons of delivered cargo: 682
Passengers: nearly 3,590
Airdropped cargo: approximately 115,000 pounds