Aug. 21 airpower summary: Predator targets enemy force Published Aug. 25, 2009 SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-1B Predator provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near Lowkhi. An enemy force was confirmed and the location passed to the Predator for elimination. The Predator fired a missile which impacted the target and eliminated the enemy force. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided armed escort for coalition helicopters near Asadabad. The aircraft focused attention on confirmed enemy positions and struck with preemptive action. Precision guided munitions were employed to successfully deter any enemy aggression while helicopters were in the area. In the vicinity of Asadabad, Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcon and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft provided armed overwatch and escort for a friendly force's convoy. During the convoy, several shows of force were requested and successfully demonstrated at various known enemy positions to deter any enemy action against the convoy. F-16CJ and coalition aircraft were providing armed overwatch for friendly forces in the vicinity of Sheykhabad when they were requested to provide armed interdiction against anti-coalition forces. The enemy force was mobile and hitting the friendly forces with heavy small-arms fire. Several shows of force, a strafing run and then a precision guided munition ended the enemy aggression. Coalition aircraft provided Chahar Bagh friendly forces with armed overwatch and responded with a requested show of force. The friendly forces had come under small-arms fire from an enemy position and the show of force was successful in deterring the enemy aggression. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were in overwatch of Chahar Bagh to assist friendly forces with a potential enemy threat. A friendly patrol was clearing a known enemy position that had earlier fired on other friendly forces. A strafing run had been requested prior to them entering the compound. After completing the sweep, friendly forces requested a show of force to deter enemy aggression. A B-1B Lancer assisted friendly forces who were under small-arms fire and rocket fire by conducting a show of force to deter any further enemy action. The show of force was successful. Joint terminal attack controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions. Thirty-two Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. In total, 74 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols. In total, 23 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 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 144 airlift sorties, 395 short tons of cargo were delivered and about 4,100 passengers were transported. This included about 130,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Aug. 20, Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported four patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue team members aboard located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield. The HH-60G 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 58 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.6 million pounds of fuel to 284 receiving aircraft.