Aug. 22 airpower summary: A-10s provide protection 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. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft provided armed overwatch near Asadabad. Friendly forces had taken enemy fire and requested helicopter evacuation. Enemy positions were identified and confirmed and the F-15Es targeted the positions with precision guided munitions eliminating the positions and securing the area for the helicopter evacuation. In Asmar, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in the area provided protection to friendly forces under sniper fire. The point of origin for the sniper fire was confirmed and the A-10s commenced strafing runs on the enemy position in lieu of precision guided munitions due to proximity of a local village. The strafing runs were successful in terminating the enemy position. F-15E aircraft in the vicinity of Sheykhabad provided armed overwatch for friendly forces recovering a vehicle previously struck by an improvised explosive device. A show of force kept the enemy forces in the area at bay while the vehicle recovery was accomplished. Coalition aircraft were at Khanabad supporting a multiple vehicle convoy of election supplies when the convoy came under enemy small-arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade attack. Shows of force, expending flares, were started immediately and soon the enemy attack was terminated and the convoy drove to its destination. Navy F/A-18C Hornets and coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near Chahar Bagh. An anti-coalition force assault began on friendly forces with small-arms fire coming from a sniper position and compound where suspicious enemy action could be observed. A strafing run on the sniper position ended the action there and a precision guided munition deterred any further activity at the enemy compound. Joint terminal attack controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions. Thirty Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. In addition, two Navy aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance. In total, 81 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols. In total, 20 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 156 airlift sorties, 568 short tons of cargo were delivered and about 3,500 passengers were transported. This included about 220,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Aug. 21, Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported eight 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 51 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.8 million pounds of fuel to 197 receiving aircraft.