May 24 airpower summary: A-10s outgun enemy forces

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an extended battle took place near Oruzgan which began after an anti-Afghan forces improvised explosive device-initiated ambush hit a friendly convoy. Increasing numbers of aircraft arrived to provide cover and attack enemy targets.  Arriving aircraft included Air Force B-1B Lancers, F-15E Strike Eagles and MQ-1B Predators and Navy F/A-18C Hornets and F/A-18F Super Hornets. The aircraft struck enemy fighting positions and personnel along ridgelines and in nearby orchards using a variety of guided bomb unit types.

An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II struck enemy personnel in the open after anti-Afghan forces attacked Afghan and coalition military personnel near a coalition forward base in the vicinity of Asadabad. The aircraft used 500-pound general purpose bombs to conduct the strike.

Near Ghazni, A-10s took out an enemy weapons cache located in a mountainside cave. The aircraft used several GBU-38s and 30mm cannon strafes to completely destroy the cache.

A coalition aircraft flying over the Lashkar Gah region flew a show of force to deter enemy activity after Afghan security forces began taking fire from a residential compound. The enemy position ceased fire following the maneuver.

An A-10 flew a show of force and launched flares to ward enemy gunmen away from a coalition observation post near Ghazni that was under attack. The aircraft's appearance prompted anti-Afghan forces to disengage.

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

In total, 70 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Nineteen Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. In addition, four Navy and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 21 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Twenty-one Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. In addition, three Air Force and coalition 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.

Approximately 130 airlift sorties were flown, 475 tons of cargo were delivered and about 3,000 passengers were transported. This included about 36,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

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

On May 23, Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 49 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.1 million pounds of fuel to 220 receiving aircraft.