Sept. 2 airpower summary: F-16s watch over ground troops

  • Published
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near Asmar. Ground forces reported receiving small-arms fire from an enemy sniper position. The point of origin for the sniper fire was confirmed and precision-guided munitions were deployed with success, deterring any further enemy action.

Navy F/A-18C Hornets provide overwatch for friendly forces in Sangin.  A friendly unit received a hit from a improvised explosive device and requested a show of force to deter enemy action. Ground forces also identified and confirmed enemy forces at a foot bridge and requested strafing runs to eliminate the threat.  Both the shows of force and the strafing runs were successful.

At Kandahar, Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces engaged by anti-coalition forces in a compound. Friendly forces requested a show of force over the area. The show of force was successful in deterring enemy aggression.

In the vicinity of Moqor, F/A-18E Super Hornets and Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were requested to destroy an enemy position that had been identified and confirmed as harboring people continually firing on friendly forces. The enemy position was eliminated using precision-guided munitions.

Joint terminal attack controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions.

Thirty-nine Air Force, Navy and coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan.

In total, 88 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, a total of 24 close-air-support missions were flown in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Twenty-seven Air Force and Navy surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. In addition, two Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Air Force airlift crews flew 143 airlift sorties, 463 short tons of cargo were delivered and about 4,100 passengers were transported. Airlift included about 210,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

On Sept. 1, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported 12 patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan.  Pararescue team members aboard the helicopters located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield. The Pave Hawks transported these patients to field hospitals in less time than it takes for a civilian patient to reach emergency care by ambulance in most major cities.

Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 56 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.3 million pounds of fuel to 239 receiving aircraft.