Sept. 1 airpower summary: A-10s suppress enemy position

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near Lashkar Gah. Ground forces reported receiving mortar and small-arms fire from an enemy compound position. The A-10s made a strafing run that deterred any further enemy action.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near Asmar. The aircraft focused attention on an enemy sniper position that friendly forces reported as a point of origin for small-arms fire. Several precision-guided munitions were deployed on the position, eliminating the threat and the position. 

Navy F/A-18C Hornets provided overwatch for friendly forces. A friendly convoy reported receiving small-arms fire from anti-coalition forces in a treeline position and requested air power to deter enemy action. The Hornets made several strafing runs on the enemy position and were successful in their missions.

At Kandahar, an MQ-1B Predator provided armed interdiction for friendly forces on an improvised explosive device employment team. The action was confirmed and a missile was fired on the enemy position, eliminating the threat to friendly forces and civilians.

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

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

In total, 83 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, a total of 28 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-six Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. In addition, two Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules 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 150 airlift sorties, 775 short tons of cargo were delivered and about 3,500 passengers were transported. Airlift included about 80,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

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

On Aug. 31, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported eight 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 57 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.3 million pounds of fuel to 249 receiving aircraft.