April 8 airpower summary: Tankers do double duty

  • Published
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. 

United States Air Forces Central Command's mission is to conduct operations to defeat terrorist networks and insurgents. Coalition airpower enhances the security and stability of the democratically-elected governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, while protecting their people from violent extremist groups. 

Helping to build each nation's capacity from the ground up, AFCENT provides a bridge to self-reliance by training and partnering with the Iraqi Air Force and Afghan National Army Air Corps to protect their national sovereignty. 

In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber used guided bomb unit-31s to destroy several buildings near Now Zad which were being used as enemy fighting positions. Enemy gunmen had been firing from inside the structures at coalition soldiers. 

A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet hit enemy bunkers in the vicinity of Kajaki Dam using GBU-38s and a GBU-12. The strikes took place after a coalition patrol came under heavy enemy fire from the bunkers. 

Near Kabul, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II targeted enemy personnel in a field with a 30mm cannon strafing pass, then exploded the weapons cache they were guarding using a GBU-38. The enemy fighters had used mortar fire and fired their assault rifles at coalition ground forces prompting the jet to engage. 

A coalition aircraft monitoring the activities of suspicious persons near Musa Qala and Train Kowt flew several shows of force to discourage their plans and disperse them. Some of the individuals appeared to be involved in setting up a rocket attack. However, coalition forces opted not to use lethal force in order to prevent causing injury to residents or damaging civilian structures in the area. 

Near Shurakian, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier executed a show of force over a building from which ground observers saw mortar fire coming. The maneuver prevented any further mortar shots. It also avoided possible harm to local residents within the compound who might not have had involvement in the anti-Afghan forces attack. 

A coalition aircraft flew a show of force near Kajaki Dam over compounds where enemy forces were concealing themselves and taking occasional shots at a passing coalition convoy. The enemy gunmen appeared to be trying to draw the aircraft's fire onto civilian residences. The aircraft commander chose to use a show of force as a non-lethal alternative to discourage the enemy from continuing their actions. 

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

In total, 77 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols. 

Twenty-one 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 22 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. 

Thirty 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, 500 tons of cargo were delivered and about 2,900 passengers were transported. 

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

On April 7, Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 44 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.0 million pounds of fuel to 263 receiving aircraft.