May 19 airpower summary: Reapers engage anti-Afghan 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 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, numerous Air Force and coalition aircraft engaged anti-Afghan forces during an extended battle and several smaller firefights near Lashkar Gah. The aircraft, which included Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, MQ-9A Reapers, and B-1B Lancers as well as coalition jets, employed a number of guided bomb unit types as well as Hellfire missiles and strafes against the many enemy fighting positions involved. Enemy forces had employed mortars, snipers, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades during the confrontation. 

Aircraft also made extensive use of shows of force as an alternative method of achieving effects for the ground force commander; these maneuvers limited enemy freedom of movement while allowing friendly ground troops to engage enemy personnel.

Near Shurakian, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier fired warning shots to suppress enemy gunmen carrying a shoulder-fired weapon after they had fired at Afghan security forces personnel. Soon after, ground forces secured the compound where the shooters had taken cover.

In the vicinity of Tarin Kowt, a B-1B and a coalition aircraft strafed an enemy fighting position and dropped a GBU-38 during an exchange of fire between the enemy forces and Afghan and coalition troops. The coalition aircraft also performed shows of force to deter additional enemy aggression.

An A-10 Thunderbolt II rolled in for a strafing run, striking advancing enemy gunmen during their attack on a coalition observation post outside Bagram. Enemy forces vacated their remaining positions and fled afterward.

Over Ghazni, an A-10 carried out a show of force after a coalition forward base came under attack. The A-10 launched flares for added emphasis of force, driving off the enemy attackers.

Strike Eagles conducted shows of force over Asadabad and Tarin Kowt to discourage enemy attacks. The shows of force provided additional security for Afghan and coalition missions, allowing their support to reconstruction efforts to proceed without interference.

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

In total, 63 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

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

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 27 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-five 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 150 airlift sorties were flown, 530 tons of cargo were delivered and about 3,900 passengers were transported.

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

On May 18, Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 43 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.7 million pounds of fuel to 198 receiving aircraft.